Manitoba teachers are nervous about recent changes to the social studies curriculum that makes aboriginal content mandatory for children from kindergarten to Grade 4, an aboriginal activist says.

The new material in the social studies program, which came into effect this fall, is part of sweeping changes that will eventually see aboriginal components added to most major subjects taught in Manitoba.

For example, students are learning to recite O Canada! in Cree or Ojibway, they are being asked to learn traditional aboriginal beliefs, and are expected to find First Nations communities on a map.

But Liz Brass, an aboriginal activist who made an unsuccessful bid for school trustee in the Oct. 25 Winnipeg civic election, said some non-aboriginal teachers have told her they don't feel comfortable teaching the new content.

"They're afraid to make the mistakes. They're afraid that they'll pass on the wrong information because they come from a different culture," Brass said, adding that the province should create a specialized resource centre for teachers.

However, department officials, as well as some teachers, say there is lots of assistance available for teachers already.

Sid Williamson, a teacher at Laura Secord School in Winnipeg, said she understands other teachers' concerns. For her part, she said she brings in outside help such as elders to address more sensitive subjects.

Whether or not they're easy to make, education officials say the changes are in tune with Manitoba's diverse student population.

'It's time' for aboriginal content: officials

"This is an area of our curriculum that had been somewhat neglected and underrepresented for a long time," Education Minister Peter Bjornson told CBC News.

"We're actually recognized as leaders in this area in Canada, with respect to aboriginal education."

Linda Mlodzinski, an education department consultant who is responsible for the new social studies program, said an aboriginal component is necessary in modern curricula.

"It's time. If we had tried to create a curriculum that wasn't inclusive, people, even non-aboriginals, would have said, 'what, this is not the reality of what I see when I walk down the street," Mlodzinski said.