The Toronto organization called the Canadian Institute for Historical Education has drawn my attention to its new podcast History Matters, interviewing historians and commentators about the subjects that interest the institute. Indeed, it invited me to appear. But for the moment I have declined.
The CIHE is a well-funded little organization founded a few years ago at a meeting at a private Toronto club. Who would not be in favour of historical education? But its concept of education concern me, frankly.
It has been vociferous in opposing any suggestion that John A Macdonald bears any responsibility for the disasters that befell indigenous people, particularly on the plains, during his time. It strongly opposed changing the name of the former Ryerson University or renaming a Toronto public square to commemorate Afro-Canadian contributions to Canada rather than the British statesman Lord Dundas. It invited David Frum from the United States to minimize the horrors of the residential schools and Nigel Biggar, author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, from Scotland to explain that colonized people all over the world should be more grateful to the British, who are moral pretty much by definition.
I believe it has never had an Indigenous scholar to speak about treaties or residential schools or reconciliation. No minority speaker has made the case to them for the name changes or for the importance of recognizing and honouring diversity and inclusion in Canada and in Canadian history. As far as I can tell, in fact, the CIHE has never featured a person of colour speaking on any historical subject.
I'm not in the habit in turning down invitations to talk about Canadian history. Anyone who sets up a podcast series can invite whom they choose. But until the CIHE is more welcoming to a diversity of viewpoints in historical education and to many fine writers, speakers, and historians who represent that diversity, I will remain reluctant to be part of its programming.
