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NEWS RELEASE - BC Ministry of Education and First Nations Education Steering Committee

FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM HISTORIC AGREEMENT

VICTORIA, Nov. 22, 2007  - The Province introduced historic legislation today that recognizes participating First Nations' jurisdiction over education on First Nations land in British Columbia and supports First Nations student achievement and lifelong learning.

"The First Nations Education Act is an important milestone in B.C.'s education system," said Education Minister Shirley Bond. "This legislation will ensure that First Nations students have an opportunity to reach their full potential."

The Province of B.C., the First Nations Education Steering Committee and Canada signed the Education Jurisdiction Framework Agreement in July 2006. Through this agreement, and subsequent federal enabling legislation, Canada has recognized First Nations' power to make laws over education on their own lands. B.C.'s legislation formally recognizes that right and enables boards of education and independent schools to enter into education agreements with participating First Nations.

"The passage of the provincial legislation will be a significant milestone in the recognition of First Nations jurisdiction over First Nations education in British Columbia," said Nathan Matthew, chief negotiator. "It will provide for continued effective working relations between First Nations and the Province."

Benefits of this legislation also include the following:

• Enables on-reserve First Nations schools to have their own system of Kindergarten to Grade 12 education, based on provincial curriculum learning outcomes for core courses leading to graduation;
   
• Enables Participating First Nations who have granted their own graduation certificates to apply to have students receive the provincial graduation certificate, called the Dogwood Certificate;
   
• Establishes the First Nations Education Authority as a regulatory body for teacher certification, school certification and curriculum and exam standards;
   
• Guarantees Ministry of Education consultation with the First Nations Education Authority as part of a general consultation on education policy, legislation, and standards changes that affect First Nations
  education; and
   
• Provides access for First Nations schools to the British Columbia College of Teachers Employment registry.

"Aboriginal student success is very important to this government as we believe education plays a crucial role in developing the tools to succeed in life," said Bond. "It is our hope that, by developing partnerships and finding new and improved ways to deliver services to students, achievement will increase."

The new legislation also fulfils commitments made in the bilateral British Columbia-First Nations Education Agreement, which was also signed in July 2006 and which recognized the importance of students being able to transfer between participating First Nations schools and public schools, and of graduates being eligible for admission to post-secondary institutions.

Celebrating the introduction of the new legislation were education partners from the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the First Nations Leadership Council and First Nations schools.

"This legislation is a big step towards assisting First Nations students to be educated in their communities, learning their language, and retaining their culture," said Dawn McGuire-Reeves, principal of the Snuneymuxw First Nation's Qwam Qwum Stalicut band-operated school in Nanaimo.

A cornerstone of the Province's Pacific Leadership Agenda is the building of new relationships with B.C.'s First Nations to conclude treaties and close the gaps in health, housing, education, and economic opportunities. In the speech from the throne, government committed to take steps to meet the needs of the almost half of Aboriginal students who do not complete school. This legislation is one step government is taking towards fulfilling that commitment.

For more information about the new First Nations Education Act, 2007 visit www.fnesc.bc.ca/jurisdiction/index.php

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BACKGROUNDER

Nov. 22, 2007

Ministry of Education
First Nations Education Steering Committee

THE FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION ACT, 2007

The First Nations Education Act, 2007 and its associated agreements are the result of many years of work by First Nations in British Columbia, the Province, the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and the Government of Canada.

On July 24, 2003, First Nations representatives, along with representatives of the federal and provincial governments, signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the elements of First Nations education jurisdiction.

Over the next three years, negotiations continued and, on July 5, 2006, British Columbia, Canada and FNESC signed a package of agreements to set the historic framework of education for First Nations students on First Nations land at the Xweme'lch'stn Estimxwawtxw School in North Vancouver.

The agreements included a bilateral B.C. First Nations Education Agreement, signed between the Province and the First Nations Education Steering Committee that recognized the need for First Nations students' ability to transfer to and from provincial schools; a curriculum recognition process between B.C. and First Nations; better working relationships between First Nations and school districts; and increased consultation between the Province and First Nations on education policy, legislation or standards and joint purchasing initiatives.

The federal enabling legislation, which received Royal Assent in Ottawa on Dec. 12, 2006 and comes into force on Nov. 22, 2007, sets into law the provisions of the B.C. First Nations Education Jurisdiction Agreement and recognizes the rights of First Nations to govern the education of children on First Nations land.

There are approximately 6,100 students in 130 schools on First Nations land in British Columbia.

The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) was established in May 1992 by participants at a Provincial First Nations Education Conference held at the Vancouver Friendship Centre. FNESC's mandate is to "facilitate discussion about education matters affecting First Nations in B.C. by disseminating information and soliciting input from First Nations."

Jan Haugen
Manager of Executive Services
First Nations Education Steering Committee
604-612-5361 (cell)

Detailed information on the legislation and agreements can be found on the education jurisdiction website at www.fnesc.bc.ca/jurisdiction/index.php