Honouring the Truth Reconciling for the Future

294 • Truth & Reconciliation Commissionrights of Catholic parents and children to be taught only Catholic religious beliefs. 110However, the court ruled:Exposing children to a comprehensive presentation of various religions withoutforcing the children to join them does not constitute an indoctrination ofstudents that would infringe the freedom of religion.… Furthermore, the earlyexposure of children to realities that differ from those in their immediate familyenvironment is a fact of life in society. The suggestion that exposing childrento a variety of religious facts in itself infringes on religious freedom or that oftheir parents amounts to a rejection of the multicultural reality of Canadiansociety and ignores the Quebec government’s obligations with regard to publiceducation. 111The Commission believes that religious diversity courses must be mandatory inall provinces and territories. Any religious school receiving public funding must berequired to teach at least one course on comparative religious studies, which mustinclude a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices.Calls to Action62) We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultationand collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to:i. Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, andAboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada amandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.ii. Provide the necessary funding to post-secondary institutions to educateteachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methodsinto classrooms.iii. Provide the necessary funding to Aboriginal schools to utilize Indigenousknowledge and teaching methods in classrooms.iv. Establish senior-level positions in government at the assistant deputy ministerlevel or higher dedicated to Aboriginal content in education.63) We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annualcommitment to Aboriginal education issues, including:i. Developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum andlearning resources on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the historyand legacy of residential schools.ii. Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related toresidential schools and Aboriginal history.