Major Research Project

Supervisor: Dr. Greg Bak

Project Title: “Uncovering the Colonial Legacy: The Role of Archives in Decolonizing Manitoba’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 History Education” (tentative)

Description: My research will explore Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) Manitoban history teachers’ understanding of archives not only as institutions of historical preservation and memory but also as settler colonial institutions. I will assess teachers’ archival understanding by drawing on the methodology of oral history. I will also examine how the reconciliatory and decolonial objectives of Manitoba’s current K-12 history curricula have been or can be advanced through a deeper engagement with archives as colonial institutions. To guide this curricular analysis, I will apply “The Four R’s” educational methodology first introduced by Kirkness and Barnhardt (1991) and recently adopted by the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives (SCCA, 2022): respect for the culture of Indigenous students, relevance to the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous students, reciprocal teaching and learning between teachers and students, and the responsibility of educational institutions to foster inclusive and supportive classroom environments for Indigenous students. This methodology will enable me to evaluate how Manitoba’s K-12 history curriculum aligns with decolonial principles and supports inclusive, culturally responsive education.