National chief welcomes strong stances on education

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo has agreed with Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s right to speak for itself during the upcoming national education review process.
“I agree that every region, every First Nation has the right and responsibility to speak for themselves,” Atleo said Aug. 18 during a national press conference for Aboriginal media. “Our people have our own experts and (I) really welcome strong stances based on treaty, based on our rights and the ability to articulate for ourselves.”
NAN recently rejected the proposed national education review process established by the federal government and the Assembly of First Nations, stating there is no need for the National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education.
“We are perfectly capable of speaking for ourselves and don’t require a National Panel with a limited mandate and minimal First Nation representation to do it for us,” said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose in an Aug. 11 press release.
NAN is concerned the National Panel has no mandate to review pre-school education, post-secondary or vocational education or to address the current and significant funding gap between provincial schools and federally-funded First Nation schools.
“We’ve had lots of reports going back from especially the early 1970s and there is a strong feeling amongst many of our people that the time for a lot of talk has to be over,” Atleo said. “It has to be about action, particularly equitable, sustainable resources for our children.”
Atleo said conditions in First Nation communities are getting worse, based on the work of the outgoing auditor general.
“This (National) Panel, and their report, will not be binding,” Atleo said. “Their job is to listen, not to project themselves as experts with top-down solutions.”
The panel is planning to hold eight regional engagement activities and a national roundtable from September to November.
The National Panel was first announced in late 2010. A report is expected by December.
Atleo said the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples had two key elements: states like Canada must work with First Nations to address change that is needed and First Nations must be involved in designing an education system that works for them.
“I would argue that after a hundred-plus years of residential schools, in an era of what I would hope would be seen as reconciliation between First Nations and the rest of Canada, there is a lot of work to do to ensure that our languages are respected and are supported to be fully restored,” he said. “And that our people are designing an education system that ensures that our culture remains strong going into the future.”
Atleo said First Nations are threatened with losing another generation if action on education is not undertaken soon.
“We have not seen a great track record on the part of government,” he said. “They have taken decisions or attempted to take them unilaterally and to force solutions on First Nations and that absolutely cannot be the way forward.”
Atleo asked why First Nations have to keep going to the courts to have their title and treaty rights recognized and upheld.
“When will Canada embrace, uphold and honour treaty rights?” he said.