Addressing Right Wing Extremist Views: Anti-Indigenous Racism in Schools

Abstract

There has been an undeniable rise in the number of hate groups in Canada.  According to the “Confronting Hate in Canadian Schools” resource, Canada is actually over-represented amongst online hate groups.  Through various social media platforms, white supremacists and ethnonationalists have expressed their socio-political grievances against certain groups they perceive to threaten national identity.  This presentation will discuss how Right Wing Extremist groups are strategic in their recruitment of youth – a cohort of extremists identified in the literature as Generation Z – primarily through virtual platforms that provide ample accessibility for all members.  It will also address how the Indigenous peoples of Canada have, historically, been targets of hate speech and how the legal and political implications of settler colonialism not only resonate in contemporary Canadian contexts but may be contributing to the anti-Indigenous racism experienced by Indigenous students in public school communities.  After providing a detailed description of the historical roots of hatred and the evolution of youth Right Wing Extremist groups, this presentation will discuss how the Ontario Ministry of Education’s most recent English curriculum incorporates a focus on digital media to promote students’ awareness of inappropriate on-line discourse and safe and respectful practices across virtual platforms and on-line environments.