Our Children Our Future Our Vision - People for Education

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Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision “failure”, or assimilation. And since a high proportion of those who “fail” tend to remain in their communities, and since a high proportion of those who “succeed” tend either to move away or to remain as an assimilated element within their communities, there is no way that either consequence can be considered beneficial to Indigenous Peoples and communities. Indeed, the overall effect must be recognized as predominantly negative and destructive. 69 Thus, the policy response to the dismal failure of residential schools should not be to look to the provinces to take up where the federal government left off. In fact, provincial education curricula, methodologies, and locations have caused similar types of destructive damage to Indigenous children. Provincial schools systems can and should improve their education systems, but can never replace First Nation ones. The only real solution is to finally recognize First Nation jurisdiction over their own education systems and support them in rebuilding their languages and knowledge systems and undo some of the harm that has already been done. Not doing so maintains the status quo, which for First Nations is poverty, disease, and pre-mature death. 70 The Inherent Right of First Nations to assert their jurisdiction over First Nation education must be recognized, protected and implemented without delay. 3. What We Already Know None of the information presented in this report is new. We have had so many reports, studies and research done on the issue of First Nation education, that it has become nearly impossible to write a new report without sounding identical to all those before it. The disastrous effects of colonial policies imposed on our communities have long been known to federal and provincial officials, clergy of all faiths, academics, researchers, and social scientists. We know the effects more intimately than anyone else because we have lived it. We have seen the slow erosion of our languages, our Indigenous values and beliefs, and our traditional knowledges about our specific territories. We know that if we don’t take immediate steps to reverse this trend and undo some of the harm that has been done to our peoples and our traditional knowledge systems, we may lose it forever. Sadly, we also know that if we do not act now, that we will continue to lose some of our youngest community members to debilitating addictions, poor health, violence, crime and suicide. The statistics are frightening about where we are headed if we don’t take action now, yet there are many barriers still placed in our way. We continue to engage, study, and talk about how to improve First Nation education outcomes, yet we have already identified all the solutions necessary to move forward – all that is missing is the political will to act. 69 Ibid. at 5-6. 70 Death by Poverty, supra note 52. 15 Chiefs of Ontario
Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision (a) Socio-Economic Conditions “Our kids are suffering – which [puts a] strain on family relationships and affects well-being in community” (Student) The deplorable socio-economic conditions of many First Nations in Canada have been described as a “national disgrace” 71 and a “national shame”. 72 These preventable social conditions are not only an international embarrassment to Canada, but the maintenance of these conditions through federal Indian policy and the purposeful, chronic underfunding is a violation of our most basic human rights. While not all First Nations share the same socio-economic conditions, the national statistics are startling and represent an absolutely intolerable way of life for our people. 73 According to the 2006 Census, there are 698,025 First Nations individuals in Canada which includes 564,870 registered (status) Indians and 133,155 non-registered (non-status) individuals. 74 While this number will be affected slightly by the new registrations due to the Bill C-3 amendments to the Indian Act in 2011, these new additions are expected to be relatively low. 75 The province of Ontario is home to the largest Aboriginal population in Canada with 296,495 Aboriginal residents. 76 There are 133 First Nations in Ontario with an approximate population of 191,721. 77 The statistics are quite alarming on almost all First Nation socio-economic indicators. The statistics 71 Office of the Correctional Investigator, “Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator” (years 2000-2010 inclusive), online: OCI [OCI Report 2000] to [OCI Report 2010] inclusive. 72 L. Eggerton, “Physicians challenge Canada to make children, youth a priority” (2007) 176 vol.12 Canadian Medical Association Journal 1693 [Physician’s Challenge] at page 1 where former Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman calls the situation a “national shame”. 73 Death by Poverty, supra note 52 at 3-4. 74 Statistics Canada, “2006 Census: Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Métis and First Nations, 2006 Census: Highlights” (Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2006), online: Statistics Canada [2006 Census]. The Census includes North American Indians or First Nations (both registered and unregistered), Metis and Inuit in that definition. It is also important to note that this report focuses on the Aboriginal identity statistics. Statistics Canada makes a distinction between those with Aboriginal identity and those who report Aboriginal ancestry: “Aboriginal identity refers to those persons who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, that is, North American Indian, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty Indian or a Registered Indian, as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported they were members of an Indian band or First Nation.” Aboriginal ancestry, on the other hand, is defined as referring to: “the ethnic or cultural origin of a person’s ancestors, an ancestor being usually more distant than a grandparent. In the census, if a person reports at least one Aboriginal ancestry response, the person is counted in the Aboriginal ancestry population.” See also: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, “First Nations People of Canada”, online: [First Nations]. AAAANDC reports that there are: “704,851 First Nations people in Canada. Most First Nations people – 403,369 (57%) – live in First Nations communities which are also called “reserves.” The other 301,514 (43%) live mainly in the larger cities.” 75 Bill C-3 An Act to promote gender equity in Indian registration by responding to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia decision in McIvor v. Canada (Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs) R.S.C. 2010 c.18 [Bill C-3]. See also: M. Hurley, Library of Parliament “Legislative Summary of Bill C-3: Gender Equity in Indian Registration Act” (Ottawa: Library of Parliament, 2010), online: [C-3 Summary]. Beyond Blood, supra note 16. Discussions with Indian Affairs employees have revealed that far less qualify than expected, despite the unexpectedly high number of applications which have created a backlog in processing. 76 Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, “Aboriginal People in Ontario”, online: [Aboriginal People]. 77 Ibid. Chiefs of Ontario 16
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