We call on the federal government to draft new Aboriginal education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Aboriginal peoples. The new legislation would include a commitment to sufficient funding and would incorporate the following principles:
- Providing sufficient funding to close identified educational achievement gaps within one generation
- Improving education attainment levels and success rates
- Developing culturally appropriate curricula.
- Protecting the right to Aboriginal languages, including the teaching of Aboriginal languages as credit courses.
- Enabling parental and community responsibility, control, and accountability, similar to what parents enjoy in public school systems
- Enabling parents to fully participate in the education of their children.
- Respecting and honouring Treaty relationships.
Why “Stalled”?
The government is focused on regional education agreements as opposed to national education legislation. Primary focus is on First Nations. Métis and Inuit are mentioned in passing reference to the “permanent bilateral mechanisms” with no details on any actions or commitments. No specific action on developing Aboriginal Education Legislation other than a $3.6M budget allocation for “community-level discussions” with First Nations. Government response still refers to “legislative options” NOT action. Other issues:
- Focus on First Nations with no details specific to Métis or Inuit
- Budget 2018 allocation of $815M over 10 years to extend funding is actually LESS then the 2017 budget: $81.5M annually vs $90M annually
- No details on improving education attainment level and success rates
- No details on developing culturally appropriate curricula
- No details on enabling parental and community responsibility….
- No details on parental involvement in their children’s education
- No details on respecting and honouring Treaty relationships
The Government of Canada has established permanent bilateral mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders as a forum to identify joint priorities, co-develop policy and monitor progress honouring commitments to Call To Action 10.
The work of all 3 of these tables has included education as a priority area and “legislative options for education may be discussed in the future should Indigenous partners identify legislation as a priority“.
Current Status
Not Started
Call to Action
last updated
July 14, 2022
Latest Updates
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First Nations Control of Education
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