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challengingFirst Nations
use of old sex -ed curriculum
By KRISTIN RUSHOWY Queen's Park Bureau
Wed., Oct. 10, 2o18
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challenging the province's . of an outdated sex -ed curriculum.
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failing to provide *,accurate,moderna inclusive sex education
(them) ... at young ages, Ontario is perpetuating the disadvantage and risk thl
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10/11/2018
First Nations challenging Ontario's use of old sex -ed curriculum I The Star
Grand Chief Ogichiclaa Francis Kavanaugh says that "by putting in place
antiquated health curriculum" the Ontario government is putting young
Indigenous people at risk. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)
It has asked its lawyers to seek intervener status in the Ontario Superior Court case
filed by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario on the first day of school.
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10/11/2018 First Nations challenging Ontario's use of old sex -ed curriculum I The Star
youth reflects their unique circumstances and needs," Grand Chief Ogichidaffl
Francis Kavanaugh said in a written release. I
"One of our strategies for of so is to ensure an Indigenous perspective is part of
the sex -ed litigation unfolding in Toronto."
During the election campaign — and in a nod to concerns raised by social
conservatives — Premier Doug Ford promised to scrap the modern, 2015
curriculum and hold consultations.
Province launches sex -ed consultations
Tens of thousands of high school students walk out en masse to protest out-of-date
sex -ed curriculum
`We want to have our voices heard,' says teen behind province wide student sex -ed
protest
Before classes began, school boards were told to use the old elementary curriculum
— which was taught from 1998 to 2014 — in the meantime.
That curriculum — the most outdated in the country — was created before sexting,
cyberbullying and s ame- sex marriage became legal, and is now the centre of four
challenges — two before the courts, and two before the Ontario Human Rights
Tribunal.
Education Minister Lisa Thompson recently launched an online portal when -
parents can have their say on a number „f. including sex -ed and math'm
instruction. Submissions will be accepted until mid-December. I
The court cases — by the teachers'union and the Canadian Civil Liberties
Association — argue that Charter rights are being breached by using the 1998
materials, and the teachers say it also violatest i ofessional duties and the
Education
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10/11/2018 First Nations challenging Ontario's use of old sex -ed curriculum I The Star
young people," said Douglas Judson, a lawyer and staff adviser with Grand Council
Treaty #3.
Indienous youth need "access to modern, fact -based heaey
lth information that th
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are less likely than other kids to get outside of school," he said.
Kavanaugh noted that "Indigenous youths continue to be one of the most
vulnerable groups g in our society. One of our responsibilities in respondinto crises
like missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and youth mental health,
self -harm, and suicide must be to provide Indigenous young people with
information about healthy and safe relationships, sexual orientation and gender
identity, and resources related to consent and gender-based violence.
The teachers'union case is to be heard in November,, on the same date as a similar
case launched by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
The cases before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal were launched by LGBTQ
youth and their families, saying the old curriculum is discriminatory, and the
Ontario Human Rights Commission is seeking to intervene.
All the legal challenges are asking that the province be forced to use the up-to-date
sex -ed curriculum.
Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy
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