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COO Press release

Bold Action Needed on First Nations Education

JANUARY 12, 2012

Toronto, ON – As was reported on Tuesday, the Enoch Birchstick School at the Pikangikum First Nation is on the verge of closing due to the loss of non-local teachers out of the community as the residences that are used to house the staff have been determined to be unsafe due to mold. This has resulted in only half of the required number of elementary classes being operational.

“This situation illustrates yet again the challenges that First Nations experience as a result of years of government under-funding First Nations education. The chronic underfunding of First Nations education and the negative consequences that have brought this about has reached a breaking point. If immediate action is not taken, we will continue to see and hear about similar crisis’s in other communities”, stated Regional Chief Angus Toulouse.

The Regional Chief indicated that the most recent report detailing the challenges in First Nations education issued by the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, on December 7, 2011 acknowledged the fact that the concerns with regards to the under-funding of First Nations education programming and facilities are legitimate. He also noted that a formative evaluation published by the federal government in February 2010 acknowledged that the 2% funding cap that the federal government placed on programs and services for First Nations in 1996, which included education funding has been detrimental and that it has not kept pace with inflation or growth. The evaluation indicated that “the funding approach to First Nations education does not currently account for existing cost realities in elementary/secondary education” and that funding allocations are based on outdated data from the mid-1990`s. 

“What is clear for all to see is that the funding of First Nations education has been sorely inadequate for many years. It is false for the government to imply funding is not the problem --- it is, and this is clear in their own reports and evaluations. This is fact. Now is time for action to address the funding inequities and to finally provide a first class education for First Nations children,” said Regional Chief Toulouse.

“I urge the federal government to immediately work with the leadership of the Pikangikum First Nation in addressing their urgent need. It is unacceptable for these children to suffer or potentially lose their school year as a result of this. Whatever needs to be done in the short term must be done as soon as possible,” stated the Regional Chief.

Regional Chief Toulouse indicates that the upcoming First Nations-Government of Canada Gathering set for January 24th is an opportunity to initiate a dialogue toward the development of concrete plans to address many of the urgent needs in First Nations communities, but also to begin to address the broader structural issues that require attention including the development of modern fiscal arrangements which address key cost drivers in First Nations communities and a revitalization of the Treaty relationship. “The meeting itself will not solve anything --- what is important is what results from the meeting. We are looking for a genuine commitment from the federal government to work with First Nations in developing a concrete plan to address the challenges that exist and to set us on a course of mutual prosperity and respectful relations, as was originally envisioned in the Treaties,” stated Regional Chief Toulouse.

The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) is a coordinating body for the 133 First Nations located within the boundaries of the Province of Ontario.

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For more information, please contact:
Andre Morriseau Communications Officer
Ph: 416-580-9320
Email: andre[at]coo.org