More Manitoba teachers and students now have access to treaty education in the classroom.
What started as a pilot project for Grades 5 and 6 in 2010 has been rolled out province-wide.
"Our long-term goal is to get into every school and to get every teacher trained across the province,” said Treaty Relations Commissioner Jamie Wilson during a news conference on Tuesday.
Treaty education is not mandatory in Manitoba schools.
So far, about 700 teachers are delivering lessons in 200 different schools.
Manitoba Education Minister James Allum said the province has taken small steps towards full implementation.
"In my opinion, it will become a core teaching subject matter - regardless if it's mandatory or not - but we'll consider that in the future," Allum said.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak said teaching about treaties in schools will lead to more respectful relationships.
"The opportunity for young people to learn that treaties were made with indigenous nations is going to absolutely change the way people think about historical foundations of this part of the country,” Nepinak said.
The Treaty Relations Commission offers two-day courses to teachers. Certain participants will receive a $500 resource kit which includes maps, timelines, a mock-up of the treaty medallion, as well as project books.
The next workshop takes place in October in The Pas, followed by a session in Winnipeg in December.
