Federal Budget Fails to Honour Committments to First Nations Education And Address Glaring Funding Inequities

Wednesday, 23 March 2011 08:50

Media
Release

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2011

(Saskatoon, SK/Kenora, ON) The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Grand Council of Treaty 3 are calling on the Federal Government to make a serious investment in the First Nations education system.

“We wanted the Federal Government to invest in First Nation youth by providing long term sustainable funding to the on-reserve K to 12 education system,’ says FSIN Chief Guy Lonechild. “In last year’s budget, the Government of Canada made a commitment to achieving comparable education outcomes. The Federal Government missed an opportunity to honour the commitment when it failed to mention anything about First Nation education in the budget.”

An on-reserve school in northern Saskatchewan receives a little more than $6,000 per First Nation student. In comparison, an off-reserve school receives $10,383 for that same student. This does not fulfill the Crown’s obligation to the Treaty Right to education.

“As Anishinaabeg we have protected our inherent right and responsibility to education through our ancestors conducting Ceremony and Treaty negotiations that resulted in a specific and clear guarantee of education as a right within Treaty 3.

As the leaders of today, the Treaty 3 Chiefs intend to uphold the Treaty right to education and look forward to engaging in government to government reconciliation discussions with the Crown to implement the Treaty promises made to the nation. The Grand Council of Treaty 3 Chiefs are considering all their options, including litigation.” says Grand Chief Diane Kelly, Ogichidaakwe of Grand Council Treaty 3.

Grand Council Treaty 3 has recently completed the first round of internal strategic discussions with their Elders, Chiefs, youth and communities and produced a comprehensive report titled “Mino Kakendaasowin: Fulfilling Sakatcheway’s Vision” that clearly identifies the glaring inequities in federal funding to on-reserve schools.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of Treaty, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.
The Grand Council of Treaty 3 represents 28 First Nation governments in the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River area within Ontario and Manitoba and their combined traditional territory includes 55,000 square miles of land, water, and resources.

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For More Information Visit www.fsin.com
Mervin Brass, Executive Director of Communications
Direct: 306.956.1026
Cellular: 306.220.7187
Email BlackBerry: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For More Information Visit www.gct3.net
Joan Jack, Grand Council Treaty 3 Political Office
Cellular: 1-204-999-6851 and grand.chief@treaty3.c