First Nation schools require at least equal funding and programs as provincial schools
Chiefs of Ontario (COO) press release ...
Ontario Regional Chief calls on the federal government to work with First Nations to resolve education crisis
Released : Thursday, October 11, 2007 4:50 PM
TORONTO, Oct. 11 /CNW/ - "The current education crisis is resulting in First Nation children being forced to accept a lower standard of education than children in mainstream schools. This is blatantly discriminatory and cannot be justified in a country that just announced a $13.8 billion dollar surplus" stated Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse.
"First Nation leaders and First Nation parents will not stand idly by while our children's education is not a priority for the federal government. We will not tolerate our children being left behind due to continued government inaction" said the Regional Chief. First Nation communities are forced to administer Band Operated schools with a 20 year old funding formula which was designed to meet education needs in the 1980's. First Nation schools are drastically under-funded as a direct result of a 2% cap on expenditure growth which has been in place since 1996. As a result, First Nation schools receive approximately half of the resources to operate in comparison to provincial schools. "When one considers those numbers it should be no surprise that the federal Auditor General cites a 28 year gap in educational attainment between our children and non-native children" said the Regional Chief.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is required to approach the federal Treasury Board in order to ensure that their spending authority for Band Operated schools is renewed. There have been years of joint work between INAC and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) which clearly identified the critical need to revise and increase the funding for Band operated schools. Despite these years of research and joint work, INAC will not be seeking any additional resources for our First Nation schools.
INAC inaction has forced people to take more extreme measures to ensure that the public is aware of this crisis. Currently First Nation citizens have organized a peaceful demonstration outside INAC's Thunder Bay Regional Office in order to bring attention to this critical issue. "I commend our people for their efforts to bring the seriousness of this situation to light. It is disgraceful that our repeated advocacy efforts have fallen on deaf ears" said Regional Chief Toulouse.
"How many times do First Nations leaders and advocates have to say that there are consequences to inaction, and that real investment is needed now to reap the benefits in the future? If our children fail, Canada fails. Our success is Canada's success" stated Regional Chief Toulouse. The Regional Chief emphasized that the government must work together with First Nations to ensure that quality education is available for all children. "Our children are our most sacred gift and we are committed to protecting their future and doing the best we can to give them the opportunities they need to succeed" said the Regional Chief.