"Heartless, Robotic Apologies": Indigenizing Toronto Education

Abstract

This paper explores the ritual performances of reading the treaty acknowledgement every morning in my school board, in contrast to and in conjunction with the playing of the national anthem. The paper uses a survey I conducted in my middle school, my lived experiences in the school system, and draws on the ideas of Jill Carter, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Angela Sweigart-Gallagher, and Chelsea Vowel to inform a critical discussion about these performances and the way they provide an example of the failings and limitations of the school board’s current approach to reconciliation.