Our Children Our Future Our Vision - People for Education

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Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision based on the philosophy that since our education involves our children and our future, it must be also be done our way, according to our vision. At the same time, Canada has constitutional, treaty, and moral obligations to work with us as partners in the support and funding of our educational systems, but it will no longer be the one in control of the system itself. Going forward, First Nations in Ontario will be the ones to determine how our education and curriculum will be designed and whether and how we enter into bi-lateral or tri-partite agreements. As always, we look to work with Canada in the treaty spirit of partnership to ensure appropriate recognition of our jurisdiction and equitable levels of funding to achieve these goals. To this end, First Nations in Ontario have embarked on a process to consult with our leaders, communities, experts, scholars, researchers, teachers, administrators, students and others to get critical feedback on how we can improve all aspects of education for our people. This has involved various activities like research, strategic planning and coordination, education conferences, sharing information online, the Academic Think Tank on First Nation Education, and other informal measures to seek out input from those working in and affected by the system. We have only just begun this process as funding continues to be a major barrier. We see these initial steps and this report as preliminary steps in exercising our jurisdiction over the education of our peoples. We have much work left to do, however we believe that First Nations in Ontario are the best place to set the vision and make the decisions affecting our educational goals and outcomes. The following words are as relevant now as they were in 1972: The time has come for a radical change in Indian education. Our aim is to make education relevant to the philosophy and needs of the Indian people. We want education to give our children a strong sense of identity, with confidence in their personal worth and ability… as a means of enabling us to participate fully in our own social, economic, political and educational advancement. 237 We have been trying to address issues like jurisdiction and inequitable funding in First Nation education for many decades. Ever since residential schools were imposed on our people, we have consistently called for a new relationship between Canada and our Nations that respects our inherent right to be self-determining and our treaty rights in relation to education. The report, Indian Control of Indian Education was followed by the Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP), then First Nation Control of First Nation Education; with many reports, studies, and articles published in between. 238 We do not need any more reports, research, or special Ministerial groups to study the problem; what we need now is action. 237 Ibid. at 3. 238 Ibid. RCAP, supra note 6. FNCFNE, supra note 108. 53 Chiefs of Ontario
Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision It is in the spirit of our Nation-to-Nation Treaty relationship that we submit this report on First Nation education to you: the First Nations in Ontario, the Assembly of First Nations, and to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The report will not offer any new insights, research or direction; nor will it propose any revolutionary new solution. All the problems, causes and solutions have been presented many, many times before. We know what needs to be done. We must take transformative action on First Nation education in Ontario – led by First Nations in Ontario, for the benefit of all of our future generations. The time for studies and national panels is over – it’s time for real action. Chiefs of Ontario 54
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