With public debates surrounding the removal of historical monuments in Canada (e.g., statues of, or schools named after, John A. Macdonald) and the United States (e.g., Confederate monuments), at times the voices of those who are most directly affected by their presence can be either drowned out or left out of the conversation entirely. It seems…

I remember the exact day when I received the email inviting me to participate on a panel speaking to the notion of "post-truth," and how perplexed I was by the idea that we, in Canada, might be post-truth or that truth might be dead (Scherer, 2017). Post-truth is defined as "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective…

Author Bryan Smith agrees that critiques of Sir John A. Macdonald, and Cornwallis as unworthy of public commemoration are warranted and necessary, particularly as each was instrumental in cementing settler-colonial projects of dominion and erasure of Indigenous populations. However, he observes that each figure is but one point (or multiple) in…

A recent study that surveyed close to 500 Alberta social studies teachers concluded that irreconcilable pressures "point to tensions between the formal program of studies and its prescribed outcomes, and the realities and complexities of classrooms where teachers attempt to realize good practices" (Alberta Teachers' Association, 2016, p,…

This special issue of "Canadian Social Studies" is dedicated to Roger I. Simon. Simon's scholarship bequeaths to theorists, teachers, and curators across Canada and beyond a theory of education that opens up responsibilities to past and present others. The papers gathered for this special issue address many of the difficulties that he…

In this article, I contextualize and outline my use of testimonial literature, including orature, by residential school survivors in a preservice course focused on building practices of witness-­as-study (Simon & Eppert, 2005). My theorization of the course curriculum and pedagogy draws on key texts by Roger Simon as a means of proposing…

This paper reports on a study exploring ways in which five experienced teachers interpreted and responded to a curricular initiative in Alberta calling for teachers to help students see social studies through multiple perspective lenses representing Aboriginal (and Francophone) communities. Over the course of the study, which focused primarily on…

Explores prospects for self-government for the Native peoples of Canada. Reviews the historical background of the Native community's loss of political autonomy. Explains how missionary efforts and the ethnocentric views of Europeans disrupted the community's culture and individual families. Identifies education as the key to effective self-rule in…

Identifies differences between Canada Native religions and Christianity in order to explore the true definition of spirituality. Believes that nature should be considered the equal of humans and deems the natural world as sacred. Concludes that students in social studies classrooms should learn about Native perspectives to help them understand…

Describes a Canadian Indian teacher's experiences with racial discrimination. Reports that Indians are scrutinized, particularly in small towns, out of mistrust and unfamiliarity. Calls for a commitment to act on the problem. Argues that teachers must examine their own attitudes and beliefs, learn about contemporary Canadian peoples, and pass the…

Describes the state of confusion that exists among the Canadian government, society, and the Canadian Indian Community. Reviews the ongoing constitutional debate in Canada. Calls for better communication between the Canadian majority population and Canadian Indians. (CFR)

Describes the reaction of Canadian Indians to the issues of taxes, self-government, and the nature of the relationship between the Canadian government and the tribes. Suggests that diverse cultural views necessitate communication. Argues that the real question of taxes is whether the government or the tribe will be the tax collector. (DK)

Suggests that geography instruction is an ideal opportunity for reinforcing culture and identity among First Nations people. Discusses the issue of culture and some sources of opposition to teaching culture on Indian reserves. Points to themes that can subtly integrate cultural lessons with geography lessons. (DSK)

Argues for the integration of aboriginal content into social studies by teaching First Nations history as Canadian history. Provides an overview of this integrated history, focusing on Atlantic Canada. Addresses such topics as extending the coverage 10,000 years prior, the parallel between human history and environmental change, and cultural…

Critiques current views of multiculturalism. Reveals results of a student survey concerning a Canadian history curriculum. Indicates that students express concern for Eurocentrism, insensitivity to Native peoples, and sex bias uniformly, but ignore other minorities. Explores multiculturalism's ideological bases. Identifies the movement with…