B.C. school district apologizes for exam asking how First Nations 'benefitted' from relationships with colonizers
A B.C. school district is apologizing for a question that appeared on an exam asking students to give examples of how First Nations people may have benefitted from their relationships with colonizers.
In a statement Friday, the Burnaby School District said it was "moving swiftly" after learning about the question that appeared on a Grade 9 social studies test.
The district's statement says students were asked to "explain how First Nations people benefitted from their relationships with European colonizers," adding that the question said "'many took advantage' of those relationships."
The statement says the district superintendent learned about the question on Thursday after a student told media about it.
"It is inappropriate and worse than that, this kind of question is harmful and could be trauma-inducing for Indigenous youth and damaging to meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people," Supt. Gina Niccoli-Moen said in the statement.
"This is not the way we integrate Indigenous perspectives and worldviews into curriculum in the Burnaby School District."
The superintendent apologized for the question and said a review of materials is underway.
"While I want people to know how deeply saddened and sorry I am that this question was put on a student exam, it is equally important to take it beyond words and take steps to prevent this from happening again," Niccoli-Moen said.
The district says it's reaching out to students in the class to find out what support and care they need. It's unclear who came up with the question, but the district says it's talking to the group "that developed the online course from which the question was taken."
"While the question on the exam was not the latest version, the district has concerns about the current material, which is a provincial resource for online learning," the district's statement says.
In November, another B.C. school district launched an investigation after an Indigenous parent shared a video on social media about one of her 11-year-old daughter's school assignments.
The assignment from a middle school in Abbotsford asked students to list five positive outcomes of Canada's residential school system that forcibly separated Indigenous children from their communities.
At the time, Dr. Kevin Godden, superintendent of the Abbotsford School District, told CTV News Vancouver in a statement that the district "immediately launched an investigation" after learning about the assignment.
"Assignments like this are not acceptable," Godden said in November. "This incident is a disservice to the district’s commitment to truth and reconciliation."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.