Beyond 94 teacher's guide now available for classroom studies on truth and reconciliation

CBC has launched anew teaching guideto helpeducators talk to their studentsabout residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action.

"I'm hoping the teachers step out of their comfort zone and try to talk about a subject that isn't comfortable to deal with," said Ian McCallum, anIndigenous Education Resource Teacher at the Simcoe County District School Board in Ontario.

McCallum is Lunaapefrom Munsee Delaware First Nation and has more than20 years of experience in the education field. He worked withCurio,CBC and Radio-Canada's onlinestreaming service for the Canadian educational community, to develop the teaching guide.

• Beyond 94 Truth and Reconciliation resource collection on Curio
• Beyond 94 teacher's guide

The teaching guide will be available in English, and will link to the CBCwebsite Beyond 94. Beyond 94,launched earlier this year, provides firsthand accounts fromresidential school survivors,stories of reconciliation and tracks the progress made onthe TRC's 94 Calls to Action in areas such as child welfare, justice and education.

McCallum never attended residential schoolhimself, but has family who attended the schools. Although he grew up with family members affected by residential schools, he recalls that it was never talked about. As he gets older, he has noticed the increased awareness about the schools and their lasting effect.

"I think we need to continue the conversation," he said.

"As a First Nations dad, I want my kids to understand that history is not necessarily a good thing, but we have to learn from it."

He is optimistic that projects like the Curio teaching guide will help the next generation of Canadians create a better relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

He said the teaching guide is targeted for students in Grade 7and up, although it's mostsuitablefor high school students.

"The audience would be people that shouldn't feel the guilt of what happened in the past, but they should feel enlightened," said McCallum.

Curio issubscription-basedbut theBeyond 94 materials will be free.