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Winnipeg, MB – Assembly of First
Nations National Chief Shawn A-inchut
Atleo and First Nations Chiefs and
delegates from across Canada confirmed
a new comprehensive plan to directly
address critical education needs facing
First Nation communities.
“This is an important confirmation of
the clear priority every First Nation leader
places on education. We are all agreed
on the way forward and the imperative of
supporting all First Nations learners and
improving education outcomes for our
children,” National Chief Atleo stated.
“Education has been used as a weapon
against us in the past, as during the
residential schools era, but it can now be
a tool to unlock the full potential of First
Nations people and communities. In the
spirit of the Federal government’s Apology
for residential schools, we call on Canada
to work with us to give life to our right
to education. The resolution achieved by
the First Nation leadership across Canada
sets the vision and the path forward for this
desperately needed progress.”
Rather than relying on external reports,
it’s time that our people lead the way. We
compel and encourage Canada to work
with us, as they committed, hand-in-hand
to strengthen and reform First Nation
education. ’’
The paper affirmed and released today,
First Nations Control of First Nations
Education 2010, is a blueprint for change.
It reflects the important vision articulated
by First Nations’ leaders and educators
in 1972 in the report “Indian Control of
Indian Education.” Since the release of that
report First Nation education outcomes
have improved with more than 500 First
Nations schools having been built, and
more than 40 Indigenous Institutes of
Higher Learning having been established
with thousands of First Nations postsecondary
student graduates.
“Not only do we need to educate our
own people, but we need to educate all
Canadians about our cultures, our histories
and our experiences,” said Ashley
Julian, AFN Youth Council Co-chair and
Dalhousie University student. “The current
education systems are accepting the status
quo. It’s time to write and implement our
own curriculums. ‘First Nations Control
of First Nations Education’ is a blueprint
to utilize education the way it should be: to
teach, to learn and to provide opportunities
for my generation and for those younger
and older. We need to engage and empower
our Elders to teach the languages, to share
their stories for the benefit of First Nations
and all Canadians. This will enrich the
education systems for all of us.”
“First Nations have taken steps to
improve the education outcomes of their
children, but clearly much more needs
to be done. Our students face unfair
inequities in funding and lack access to
critical support services which creates
barriers to success. We must address
these head on in order that our children
can be supported to achieve comparable
outcomes to other students in Canada,”
National Chief Atleo stated. “The report
we are issuing today will help build
stronger First Nations and a stronger
Canada for all of us.”
First Nations Control of First Nations
Education, prepared by experts in the field,
identifies a strategy that provides clear
policy objectives and activities focused
on achieving success in First Nations
education, these include:
1. Ensuring First Nation lifelong learners
have access to an education system with
programs and services grounded in First
Nations languages, values, traditions and
knowledge.
2. Building and sustaining First Nations’
community and institutional capacity
to deliver a wide spectrum of quality
programs and services across the lifelong
learning continuum.
3. Full and effective implementation
of First Nations control of First Nations
education by federal, provincial, territorial
and First Nations governments.
First Nations call on the federal
government to endorse First Nations
Control of First Nations Education 2010
and work in partnership with First Nations
to fully implement this blueprint for real,
lasting and positive change.
The First Nation Control of First Nation
Education 2010 policy paper can be
downloaded at this address: www.afn.ca
Winnipeg, MB – Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-inchut Atleo and First Nations Chiefs and delegates from across Canada confirmed a new comprehensive plan to directly address critical education needs facing First Nation communities. “This is an important confirmation of the clear priority every First Nation leader places on education. We are all agreed on the way forward and the imperative of supporting all First Nations learners and improving education outcomes for our children,” National Chief Atleo stated.
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