A petition encouraging School District 73 to teach black history and experiences in its schools has almost 450 signatures as of noon Monday morning.

Organizer Mary Falade says there are Black students at various schools across the Kamloops Thompson School District, noting they have yet to be truly welcomed into educational spaces.

“We spend our time in school learning and fixating on the experiences of White Canadians, without ever learning about ourselves. Naturally, this suggests our curriculum does not consider Black experiences as important contributions to education,” she wrote.

“In addition, this reinforces prejudiced mindsets and behaviours in our White peers and teaches them that they are to be valued over Black students.”

As for how the school district can update its curriculum to be more inclusive of Black history, Falade says it includes acknowledging the implicit and explicit racism in Canada and its impacts, ensuring a focus on more than just anti-Black racism, as well as to hold discussion on how racism is a systemic issue.

When it comes to teaching, she says its important to include African history along with European and Asian history.

“Our childhoods and youth are crucial in determining the kind of people we grow up to be and the impact we will have on our society,” Falade wrote. “Education has the power to ensure we devote our futures to making Canada a home for everyone.”

Education Minister Rob Fleming previously said many students are interested in talking about current events, especially in light of protests in the United States and Canada following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

You’ll find the petition here.