We regularly talk about condemning bullying, although bullying has gone on since the first visible minorities arrived in North America hundreds of years ago. Blacks and Aboriginals have been the North Americans most affected by discrimination, racial profiling, carding, segregation, mass incarceration and genocide; many of these issues remain unresolved to this day. These community-destroying practices and other biases must be eradicated in order to achieve a fair and equitable society. There are inequalities in virtually every facet of life for Aboriginals and Blacks. Their over representation in the Canadian prison population is one major result of this fact. Broken homes, lack of economic opportunity, and deplorable living conditions have led to broken spirits and poor life decisions which, in turn, result in a myriad of other generational social problems such as substance abuse and mass suicide . 

 

Teaching the truth about Aboriginal history and teaching accurate and all Black history in all schools would be one of the necessary giant steps in the right direction for a better world.  Why?  Inclusion of fair, accurate and comprehensive Aboriginal and Black history in the Ontario curriculum will bring about overdue acknowledgment of their contributions to the building of North America, improved respect from non-Aboriginal and non-Black social groups, and enhanced race relations. Inclusion of this history, which is largely missing from the present curriculum, will motivate Black and Aboriginal youth to establish and start building their cultural identity, to become inspired and to proudly follow in the footsteps of present and past trail blazers and role models who have made their contributions to North America, going on to become productive members of society. For these reasons and more, the signers of this petition endorse the full inclusion of Black and Aboriginal history in the Ontario curriculum. 

 

Over the years several white teachers, whom we have met at our "Silence the Violence and Shun the Guns" outreach initiative outings, have approached us and expressed to us that they are very interested in teaching Black history to their students. What they are missing is Black history material that they can use. The time is now to support the full implementation of Black and Aboriginal  history in Ontario’s schools.  Activists have spent years working towards this point, and a groundswell of public opinion in favour of greater inclusion of this history in the curriculum is now underway. People are asking for Black and Aboriginal history to be taught in all schools in North America. Let’s start with Ontario.

 

Supporters, can you spend at least an hour to be part of this historic movement?  We need you to do seven simple actions right now:

1) Watch this short video: http://www.cbc.ca/player/ Shows/Shows/More+Shows/ID/ 2652383229/ at 4:00 and if you can spare 20 minutes, watch the whole video Being Black in Canada, originally aired on CBC on Sunday, February 8, 2015.  There are also 2013 and 2014 programs you may want to watch. 

 

2) Sign this petition and then encourage others, aged 18 years of age or older, to sign this petition. Set your goal of at least 25 signatures.  

 

3) Like us on Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/NegotiateonDemandInc

https://www.facebook.com/LABHonline

https://www.facebook.com/LACHonline

 

4) Follow us on Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/NegotiateOnD

https://ww.twitter.com/LABHonline

https://www.twitter.com/LACHonline

 

5) Follow us on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/silencetheviolenceand

 

6) Visit our website at: https://www.silencetheviolence.ca and buy our items from over 100 to chose from to financially support our initiative. Some of our products includes but not limited to:

- Our growing catalogue of monthly full colour publications which we sell in upscale areas in mainly downtown Toronto and the financial district.  Buy as many or few titles that you desire.  At the moment, we do not offer a subscription service.  Price: $25.00 CDN each*

- Our very popular "SILENCE THE VIOLENCE AND SHUN THE GUNS - NOD" silicone wrist bracelets. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

- Our recently introduced Silence the Violence and Shun the Guns stickers. Price: $10.00 CDN each*

- For the month of February, we are now proudly offering "I RESPECT BLACK HISTORY MONTH". Price: $10.00 each*

 We now have over 100 items for sale. 

 

COMING SOON!

- BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION MATTERS TOO. - NOD wrist bracelets. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

- COMPLETE AND ACCURATE BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. coffee mugs. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

- COMPLETE AND ACCURATE BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. t-shirts. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

- COMPLETE AND ACCURATE BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. baseball caps. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

– ABORIGINAL HISTORY EDUCATION MATTERS TOO. – NOD wrist bracelets. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

– COMPLETE AND ACCURATE ABORIGINAL HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. coffee mugs. Price: $25.00 CDN each*

– COMPLETE AND ACCURATE ABORIGINAL HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. t-shirts. Price: $25.00 CDN each*

– COMPLETE AND ACCURATE ABORIGINAL HISTORY EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS MATTERS TOO. baseball caps. Price: $20.00 CDN each*

* Shipping and handling are extra.  

 

6) Use our hashtags in all your communications concerning this historic movement.  #ActionForEquality2015  #OurHistoryExposed2015 

 

7) For a minimum of two hours per week, join us to volunteer onsite at our outreach initiative outings in Toronto to collect physical signatures, increase our social network presence and recruit more volunteers.  You must reside in the G.T.A.. Call us at: 1-888-663-6602 Ext. 9 or e-mail us at: learningaboutpublications@thenod.ca, and in the subject line write: "Action For Balance volunteering." Please encourage others to do the same until we reach our goal of 500,000 signatures.