The proposed First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act falls far short of the five conditions set out by the National Chiefs Assembly. We had hoped that, based on the massive rejection of the First Nations Education Act, the federal government would have collaborated with First Nations in a meaningful dialogue on a new approach.
Instead, we received the same adversarial attitude where Canada disregards its constitutional, legal and moral obligations identified by the Supreme Court of Canada and outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Government of Canada has left First Nations no choice but to completely reject Bill C-33, the First Nation Control of First Nation Education Act. It is critical that the Government of Canada collaborate with First Nations on a new approach.
Grand Chief Peters concludes, “The proper First Nations authorities are prepared to negotiate with the federal government on our education jurisdiction and immediate funding. First Nations have the desire and expertise to make this happen now. All that is needed is Canada’s political will.”
Peters went on to say, “First Nations children deserve the absolute best in education and as leaders we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure this. We have solutions that can bring certainty to the future of our children and our communities.”
ABOUT AIAI
AIAI is mandated as a Provincial Territorial Organization (PTO) to defend and enhance the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of our seven member First Nations. Our member nations include: Batchewana First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, Delaware Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Wahta Mohawks. Learn more at www.aiai.on.ca, on Twitter@AIAI_comms and on Facebook.
CONTACT
For more information, please contact Suzanne Morrison at smorrison@aiai.on.ca or 519.281.6238.
