Decolonization of STEM in the Public Education System in Québec, Canada

Abstract

Indigenous representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is crucial for reconciliation, self-determination, and inclusive and equitable science policy. Indigenous people continue to be underrepresented in Canada's STEM workforce, creating a substantial annual cost to the Canadian economy. Canada’s provinces and territories hold jurisdiction over education, and the majority, including Québec, do not include Indigenous perspectives in their elementary and secondary STEM curricula. This exclusion can alienate Indigenous learners and deter them from STEM careers. As a model for the decolonization of STEM in other provinces, we call for the amendment of Québec’s Education Act to create an Indigenous Education Steering Committee (IESC), which would collaborate with the Minister of Education to ensure inclusion of locally relevant Indigenous STEM content in compulsory curricula. We further propose that Québec include continued professional development training for teachers on Indigenous perspectives in STEM in the Ministry of Education’s strategic plan, thereby building capacity for the equitable participation of Indigenous peoples in STEM.