First Nation leaders fighting against paternalism and colonialism being imposed by Canadian government
Manitoba chief slams First Nations education reform proposal
Oct 23, 2013
Video
A Manitoba aboriginal leader says the federal government's proposed changes to education on First Nations are "paternalistic" and "colonialist."
Late on Tuesday, the Conservative government released a draft of the First Nations Education Act, which would see Ottawa setting and enforcing standards for schools on aboriginal reserves, and wrest temporary control of schools that fail to make the grade.
- First Nations education reform proposals revealed
- Read the First Nations education draft legislation (PDF)
But Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says the government's proposed reforms remind him of the residential school system.
"When you read between the lines you see the minister is granted a tremendous amount of authority under the new legislation, with none of the liability," Nepinak said.
"It's a continuation of the paternalistic colonialist type of legislation that we've been subjected to under the Harper regime."
The government has long held that substandard schooling and academic performance has played a significant role in impoverishing aboriginal Canadians.
The First Nations Education Act is the centrepiece of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's aboriginal affairs agenda.
Nearly half of students fail to reach Grade 12: study
A recent C.D. Howe Institute report determined that almost half of aboriginal students nationwide fail to get to Grade 12.
Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs accused Ottawa of manufacturing a First Nations education crisis, adding that the real problem facing First Nations schools is funding. (CBC)
The study found Manitoba had the worst record of six provinces with substantial aboriginal populations, with 63 per cent of natives failing to graduate high school.
"Our government firmly believes that all First Nation students across Canada deserve access to a school system that meets provincial and territorial standards, while respecting First Nation culture, language, rights and treaties," Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said in a statement late Tuesday.
"The draft legislative proposal for First Nation education would put in place a system that is accountable to students, and ensures that First Nation students have access, like all Canadians, to a good education."
But Nepinak said the "one size fits all" approach to legislating education does not work for treaty people, and First Nations leaders were not even consulted in the drafting of the act.
"Mr. Harper's new legislation is a trip back down residential school processes and the elimination of Indian control over Indian education," he said.
Funding a major issue, says chief
The grand chief accused Ottawa of manufacturing a First Nations education crisis, adding that the real problem facing First Nations schools is funding.
"When we talk about education gaps, you know, we definitely have to make a consideration that the funding is a major issue," said Nepinak.
"Mr. Valcourt, the minister, can talk all he wants about not funding a broken system, but who broke the system to begin with?"
Nepinak said First Nations have been struggling with an education funding gap for the last 20 years, while student populations on reserves have skyrocketed.
National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations says the federal government must "meangingfully and immediately engage with First Nations."
"We must get this right, right now," Atleo stated in a release.
The AFN said Valcourt met with its chiefs committee on education on Monday and "they delivered a direct message that First Nations must be fully and meaningfully engaged in the design, development, and implementation of First Nation education."
According to the AFN, the federal government says it will accept feedback on the draft legislation until early January.
Related
- First Nations education reform proposals revealed
- Valcourt urges First Nations education reform 1st, funds later
- UN aboriginal envoy says Canada is facing a 'crisis'
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First Nation education a national scandal: Rae
By Matt Vis
- Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com
Phil Fontaine (left) and Bob Rae take part in a question-and-answer session with the audience at Confederation College during the Wiicitaakewin Speaker Series on Friday. Both agree more must be done to improve First Nations education, and say the recently introduced proposed legislation by the federal government is not the best solution.
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The state of First Nations education is "disgraceful" and a "national scandal."
That's according to former Ontario premier and Liberal Party of Canada interim leader Bob Rae, who shared his perspective at the Wiicitaakewin Speaker Series at Confederation College on Friday.
"We still have inadequate resources and we still have a huge challenge getting the kind of quality of education we need for younger people on reserve and off reserve," Rae told reporters afterwards.
Rae was joined by Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, at the forum where educational issues facing First Nations was a focal point.
Earlier this week the federal government introduced a proposed bill targeting First Nations education reform, where the First Nations can select school boards but the curriculum and standards are set by the government.
Rae said First Nations education needs to be improved and it won't be easy, but said the federal government is doing it wrong.
Fontaine echoed that sentiment, and said during the forum that there should be more self-government and less of a top-down exercise.
"I think the proposed legislation is short-sighted," Fontaine said when asked about his thoughts on the legislation during an interview.
"There are some major gaps and one of the most significant gaps is funding. There are too many First Nations with schools, there are too many communities with schools in a terrible state of disrepair and that issue has to be addressed."
Fontaine explained a gap has been widening since 1996, when the federal government introduced a two per cent cap increase on core programs and services.
He said over the past 17 years the gap, which was previously closing, has grown larger than ever.
"There is a huge disparity, in many cases 20 to 30 per cent difference between what public schools receive on a per student basis and what First Nations schools receive from the federal government," Fontaine said.
"It's just unfair."
Rae said that during his schooling there was no element of First Nations education. He said history courses focused exclusively on European explorers such as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot and Samuel de Champlain but ignored the First Nations presence.
He added that while there is progress being made within the curriculum, there still is a great need to open the conversation.
"We have to talk to kids about it, and not just about the past but about the present," Rae said. "We have to talk to kids about where we've all come from and how in a sense Canada has always been an Aboriginal country. "
Fontaine told the assembled crowd he believes there should be a mandatory First Nations history or similar course at the high school level, as well as a compulsory university credit.