I think it starts with the local provincial ministries of education taking an active part in changing the teaching of history. History is such an important subject to Canadians. You have to know where you come from to move on to the future.
Certainly in Nova Scotia they've recognized this, because Nova Scotia is the centre of the oldest African Canadian community. The provincial educational system there has taken a serious look at incorporating that.
It starts with the ministries of education. It starts with the local parent-teacher associations. It starts with educational groups and organizations in this country, such as the Canadian Teachers' Federation, based here in Ottawa. These are all organizations that should be approached in terms of redefining the teaching of history in this country.
As I said, it's wrong to classify history by colour. The way Black History Month is introduced in schools today, it's optional. It's the school's choice whether or not to celebrate it. Mind you, many schools do. Still, it's the school's choice whether to celebrate it or not.
What we're telling kids is that they are not required to know and will not be tested on the contributions of black Canadians. But the contributions of other Canadians they will have to know and they will be tested on that. What are we telling our students?