Decolonization and Representation of Indigenous Voices in the Ontario English Curriculum

Subsequent to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada releasing its 94 Calls to Action (2015), there have been several initiatives put in place to assist in providing equity and inclusion, alongside reconciling the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. One of these initiatives is the De-streaming of curriculum in the Grade 9 year in Ontario. Using a conceptual framework which focuses on decolonization of education, both The Ontario Curriculum: Grade 9: English (2007) and The Ontario Curriculum: Grade 9, De-streamed (ENL1W): English (2023) were analyzed separately and then comparatively. The analysis found that the Government of Canada is making small strides towards equity and inclusion of Indigenous voices; however, this is not enough to reconcile the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and there is much more to be accomplished.