What Do First-Year University Students in Ontario, Canada, Know about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples and Topics? - paper

Oct 15, 2026

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A questionnaire on student awareness was administered to first-year cohorts at 10 Ontario universities in 2014 to examine how students learn to think about colonialism and its relationship to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and to Canadian society. Analysis of 2,899 responses shows substantial unawareness among Ontario high-school graduates regarding Indigenous presence, vitality, laws shaping life conditions, and Indigenous contributions. Although knowledge about today’s issues is slightly higher, historical forces are poorly understood. Results suggest curricular reform and central teacher-education roles are needed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages38

Reading Time1 h 36 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Background and purpose of the Ontario Student Awareness Questionnaire

What Do First-Year University Students in Ontario, Canada, Know about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples and Topics? Laura Schaefli Queen’s University Anne Godlewska Queen’s University Lisa Korteweg Lakehead University Andrew Coombs Queen’s University Lindsay Morcom Queen’s University John Rose Queen’s University Canadian Journal of Education / Revue canadienne de l’éducation 41:3 (2018)©2018 Canadian Society for the Study of Education/ Société canadienne pour l’étude de l’éducation [www.cje-rce.ca](www.cje-rce.ca) Abstract We disseminated the Awareness Questionnaire to the first-year cohorts at 10 Ontario universities in 2014. Co-designed with over 200 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit educatorsand community members across Ontario, the survey investigated how students are learning to think about colonialism and its relationship to Indigenous peoples and Canadian society. Statistical analysis of 2,899 student responses reveals that first-year university students who graduated from Ontario high schools are substantially unaware ofIndigenous presence and vitality. The majority of students do not understand the fundamental laws structuring conditions of life for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people or the contributions Indigenous peoples make to all aspects of Canadian society. Although they know slightly more about what is happening with regard to Indigenous peoples today, students have little sense of the historical circumstances and forces that shape current events. Arguably, students are this ignorant because the Ontario K–12 curriculum, which remains deeply inadequate, is the primary source of information for most students. However, when students have opportunities to engage with Indigenous perspectives and topics, it can make a difference to what students know and think. These results indicate that curricular reform is key to eradicating mass ignorance but cannot occur in isolation. Teacher education programs must play a central role in enacting the promise of new curricular emphases. Keywords: ignorance, awareness, Indigenous, Ontario, university, curriculum Résumé Nous avons diffusé le questionnaire sur la sensibilisation au corps étudiant de première année de 10 universités ontariennes en 2014. Élaboré en collaboration avec plus de 200 éducateurs et membres des communautés des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuits à travers l’Ontario, ce sondage a examiné ce que les étudiants pensent du colonialisme et de son rapport avec les peuples autochtones et la société canadienne. L’analyse statistique de 2 899 réponses d’étudiants révèle que les étudiants universitaires de première annéeayant gradué des écoles secondaires ontariennes ignorent substantiellement la présence Canadian Journal of Education /Revue canadienne del’éducation 41:3 (2018) [www.cje-rce.ca](www.cje-rce.ca) des autochtones et leurs activités. La majorité des étudiants ne comprennent pas les lois fondamentales qui régissent les conditions de vie des membres des communautés des Premières nations, Métis et Inuits, ni la contribution qu’apportent les peuples autochtones à tous les aspects de la société canadienne. Bien qu’ils en sachent un peu plus sur ce qui se passe actuellement à l’égard des peuples autochtones, les étudiants n’ont que peu de connaissances sur les circonstances et contraintes passées qui façonnent les événements actuels. Les étudiants sont sans doute ignorants parce que le programmed’études ontarien de la maternelle à la 12e année, qui demeure très insuffisant, demeure pour la plupart leur principale source d’information. Cependant, offrir aux étudiants l’occasion de se familiariser avec les points de vue et la culture des autochtones peutavoir un impact sur ce qu’ils connaissent et pensent. Ces résultats indiquent que laréforme des programmes d’études est essentielle pour éradiquer l’ignorance généralisée, mais qu’elle ne peut à elle seule y arriver. Les programmes de formation des enseignants doivent jouer

FAQs

What was the Ontario Student Awareness Questionnaire designed to assess?

It examined how first-year university students learn to think about colonialism and its relationship to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and Canadian society, including barriers to that learning.

What do the results show about students’ knowledge?

Statistical analysis of 2,899 responses indicates that students are substantially unaware of Indigenous presence and vitality, and they lack understanding of fundamental laws and broader Indigenous contributions.

How does the article explain students’ limited historical understanding?

It argues that the Ontario K–12 curriculum is the primary source of information for most students and is deeply inadequate; opportunities to engage Indigenous perspectives can improve what students know and think.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fans