In the Ontario government’s latest embarrassing move, the Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) field trip to the Grassy Narrows River Run.
An annual tradition in which participants wear blue and march through the streets to raise awareness and demand accountability for the decades-long mercury poisoning of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, this year has become the focus of Zionist anger.
From the River Run to a witch hunt
On September 18, students from various schools across Toronto attended a field trip to the Grassy Narrows River Run, a community event organized in support of the Grassy Narrows First Nation. In a statement issued on Friday, the school board said the excursion was intended to be an experience for “students to hear from Indigenous voices about the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Grassy Narrows.”
Groups of parents contacted the media to voice their outrage that the field trip “turned into a protest,” as some participants in the River Run made connections between the situation of colonialism faced by the Grassy Narrows First Nation and the genocide in Palestine. Signs and chants such as, “From Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime” were cited by the usual right-wing snowflakes as a “danger to students”.
The Toronto Sun added fuel to the online flames with an inflammatory account that was entirely based on a hearsay quote from a cousin about the experiences of a family member who was Jewish and their cousin’s classmate. It was alleged that students were forced to wear blue shirts to mark them as “colonizers.” Jesse Brown of Canadaland used the article to paint this as an anti-semetic attack on Jewish students, and this narrative was picked up by the Jerusalem Post. The truth was students and all attendees were asked to wear blue, like they are every year that the River Run has taken place.
School board officials apologized for the situation and said it would review its field trip policy and prioritize an investigation into the matter. The announcement of the provincial investigation from Education Minister Jill Dunlop comes one day after Premier Doug Ford slammed the school board, calling them “disgraceful.”
In response, the TDSB said they will be cooperating fully with the investigation and welcomes the Ministry of Education’s support. “TDSB has serious concerns about what took place. That is why we immediately launched our own investigation on Thursday, September 19, within 24 hours of the event in question,” read their statement. According to the TDSB, the situation involved students from fifteen schools as well as multiple staff, and a thorough investigation will take time to conduct and complete. Their statement continues, “We have made clear that if the investigation concludes that TDSB policies, procedures or professional standards were not followed, we will take action, including disciplinary action, to ensure accountability.”
Truth and Reconciliation has to be more than words
The witch hunt for teachers is in full swing with the usual Twitter Zionists and right-wingers aligning in their frothing hatred of teachers and education. To anyone with half a brain, the field trip fit completely with the Ontario Science and Social Studies curriculum put forward by this very government. Even a cursory glance at the Ontario curriculum includes points like “demonstrate an understanding of significant experiences of, and major changes and aspects of life in, various historical and contemporary communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, in Canada.”
The field trip was a clear way for students to actively explore the perspectives of a First Nation in Canada and their experience. The fact that there were pro-Palestinian chants and signage there is just another learning opportunity. The only people trying to indoctrinate students are those like Doug Ford who want to silence any and all discussion of the genocide in Gaza.
The TDSB had previously said it remains committed to the calls to action set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and will continue to provide opportunities for students to learn about Indigenous history and contemporary realities. But by caving to this racist mob, it makes a complete joke of all its Orange Shirt Days, daily land acknowledgements, and efforts at truth and reconciliation.
This is the same school board that had thousands of students across the city flying Ukrainian flags. When another school board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, took students to a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in 2022, no one batted an eye. The hew and cry over the River Run is simply rank hypocrisy and naked anti-Palestinian racism. Sadly, by caving to the pressure from supporters of Israel, the TDSB has thrown both Palestinians and Grassy Narrows First Nation under the bus.
Defend the teachers
The teachers involved in this field trip must be defended. Let’s learn the lesson from the targeting of Fred Hahn. The attempt to discipline him, as is the attempt to discipline these teachers, is an attack on Palestinian solidarity, but also an attack on union rights and power. Doug Ford makes no secret of his disdain for teachers and he is happy to align with those that want to attack them. We can’t give an inch to the baseless, sensational reports from right-wing tabloids.
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