Family says government’s use of relative’s name in curriculum is ‘tokenism’

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — The United Conservative Party’s draft K-6 curriculum has been wrought with challenges since it was released this year, with numerous school boards rejecting to pilot it and other Albertans criticizing the content.

Now, an Alberta family is specifically calling out the use of a relative’s name in reference to teaching about Black history in the province.

Agnes Leffler Perry Chaney is included in the draft and listed among famous Black Albertans and their early settlement in the area. Her granddaughter said Chaney is being misrepresented and this was a result of a lack of research from the province.

“(Education Minister Adriana LaGrange) stated that they were happy to include the story that my grandmother had written in a publicly available book, Window of our Memories,” said Julianne Sévère.

“Firstly, my grandmother did not write that book. It was written by her sister Velma Carter and co-authored by my godmother Wanda Akili. My grandmother’s contribution was a verbal anecdote told to her sister, the book was intended for our community. It was not intended to be used to prop up a curriculum that has been deeply problematic and accused of whitewashing history.”

Sévère said that the curriculum also does not use her grandmother’s full legal name, and the government did not seek any permission to use this part of the book in the draft curriculum. Further, she added the book is not available in full anymore and only some excerpts are available to see, but those excerpts were published with consent from Akili.

RELATED:

• Draft curriculum getting failing grade from Indigenous groups
• Alberta curriculum under fire for ‘whitewashing’ Canada’s history
• Curriculum draft ‘belongs in the trash’, says education critic
• Only 17% of Albertans support K-6 draft curriculum: ATA poll

Sévère said her grandmother was a schoolteacher and believes she also would not have approved of the curriculum, and calls on the government to remove this piece.

“She was not a notable historical figure, she was a beloved and sacred member of the settlement family that will not stand by while this government uses her in this manner,” Sévère said.

“Finding a name on a website, then essentially saying ‘there, we’ve added Black people’ is the definition of tokenism.”

Sévère said she sent an email to LaGrange, but the eventual response back was “condescending”, and she is also upset that the minister mentioned the name while highlighting the draft curriculum in social media posts.

A statement from a spokesperson for Minister LaGrange disputed what Sévère said.

“Ms. Leffler Perry, is not only a notable historic figure in Alberta, she is a dedicated community builder and an important pioneer in the Black community,” read the statement from Nicole Sparrow. “The decision to include her contributions in the curriculum is meant to ensure her legacy continues to shine bright for generations of Albertans to come.”

The excerpt from the book can be found online, and Sparrow said that the story was included during an exhibit on Black history at the Royal Alberta Museum although Sévère said that wasn’t true.

NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman said this is the latest in a long line of issues with the draft.

“Albertans from all backgrounds are outraged by this unacceptable curriculum,” she said. “It’s time for the UCP to finally start listening and scrap this curriculum.”

Sévère said there has been a lot of research and exhibits on Black history in Alberta, so the province should not have to be reaching for content at this time. She said it is clear there was not enough consultation done on this topic, especially with the fact she was not contacted about the use of Chaney’s story.

“Consider this my consultation. I am her only living descendent, and you do not have my consent to use her name or her story. Your lack of consultation and dismissal of my concern shows a continued lack of respect for Alberta’s racialized communities.”

Public feedback on the draft curriculum is being accepted up until it is planned to be implemented in the fall of 2022.