Our Children Our Future Our Vision - People for Education

Our Children, Our Future, Our Vision
• Create strong partnerships on our terms – not forced;
• Exercise our jurisdiction over education;
• Take a rights-based approach;
• Prioritize early learning.
6. How do you think the federal government could improve the current approach to legislation
directly affecting First Nations in Canada?
• Respecting the inherent and Treaty rights of First Nations peoples;
• Respecting the diversity of the First Nations;
• Respecting the political process of the First Nations;
• Reviving the Kelowna Accord;
• Relinquishing the powers of the AANDC Minister to First Nations;
• Accepting the authority of First Nations to drive the process, and;
• Acting in good faith on the apology delivered by the Prime Minister.
While discussing this question participants also advised that First Nations need to:
• Create our own education laws;
• Develop our own policy experts;
• Develop our own system and assign our own Minister;
• Educate non-First Nations population on Treaties – we are all Treaty people, and;
• Clearly articulate our needs with a plan for the future.
Analysis
Analysis of the information gathered at these information/discussion sessions provides insight into
the fundamental issues affecting the ability of First Nations to deliver appropriate and adequate
education to their learners. The subject of inadequate and inequitable funding forms a strong underlying
element and is discussed in all but question two.
Five out of the six questions also contain multiple references to First Nations control, or jurisdiction
over education. There are also multiple references to the importance of maintaining a rightsbased
approach to First Nation education and inclusion/infusion of language and culture into the
curriculum.
The answers to the questions often contain references that assert that it is up to First Nations in
Ontario to establish our own system, on our own terms that facilitates the partnerships that we
desire and adheres to our own ways of learning, teaching, knowing and assessing.
85 Chiefs of Ontario