Our Children Our Future Our Vision - People for Education

Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision
FN education – Keep it Moving,” and “Nothing will get done unless we take control of this”). Other
statements were indictments against the federal government, such as “the lack of support from
our government makes First Nations communities look like third world countries,” and “the government
usually does this (surveys / Royal Commissions) to temporarily appease its citizens, then
ends up shelving any reports it came up with.”
Summary of Results
The survey was conducted to garner input from a variety of stakeholders in First Nations education,
and is intended to form only one part of the larger report from Ontario that is being submitted
to the Minister and to the National Chief. Although small in scale and limited in scope, the results
of the survey provide invaluable information and input from those directly involved in education
in First Nation communities. The voices of parents, grandparents, students, teachers, educational
assistants, administrators, and politicians carry credence and give weight to the results presented
here.
The following is a summary of the findings based upon the results of this survey:
Early Childhood Education and Daycare
• First Nations require access to comparable early childhood daycare centres that include Native
language and cultural content, and are appropriately funded.
Early Learning – Head Start, K4 & K5
• First Nations require access to comparable early learning opportunities that include Native
language and cultural content, and are appropriately funded.
K - 12
• First Nation school do not have the curriculum, textbooks, or resources found in provincial
school, which inevitably lead to students struggling when they transfer to the provincial school system.
• Tuition / Education Services Agreements between First Nations and provincial school boards
continue to be an area of concern, with many respondents feeling that there is no accountability
on the part of the provincial school boards for services rendered.
Band Operated Funding Formula (BOFF)
• The Band Operated Funding Formula is critically insufficient and does not meet the needs of
First Nation students.
Chiefs of Ontario
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