FSIN, teachers’ group jointly appeal for more Indigenous education funding
The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) are calling for increased funding for education.
STF President Patrick Maze joined FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron and Vice Chief David Pratt in the FSIN boardroom on Friday morning, drawing attention to a continued disparity between Indigenous and non-indigenous graduation rates.
Over the past year, Indigenous graduation rates have decreased from 44.5 to 43.4 per cent, according to the STF. The non-indigenous three-year graduation rate sits at 77.3 per cent.
Graduation rates are just one aspect of a comprehensive problem of underfunding that needs to be addressed in an education system that is “starved of funds,” Maze said, adding that the call is largely about a broader investment in student success.
“The Calls to Action with Truth and Reconciliation have been public for years now and what are we going to do about it?” Maze said. “At some point we have to say this starving the education system is hurting our students.”
Indigenous educators and leaders have said that systemic problems that contribute to the issue, like discrimination, can’t be fixed overnight and more needs to be done to create inclusive spaces for Indigenous students.
Providing Treaty-based and culturally-competent education can help to combat that, Cameron said.
“When we talk about investment from a First Nations perspective, the language and culture component is critical for First Nations students to succeed,” he said.
Maze identified the Following their Voices initiative as a bright spot in increasing engagement and graduation rates. However, it needs to be implemented beyond a few dozen schools in order to create widespread change, he said.
The Aboriginal Retention Worker Program at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, which was eliminated in 2017 due to a budget shortfall partially caused by provincial government cuts, is another example of where increased
MATT SMITH
funding could make a difference.
Before next year’s provincial election, both organizations say they will ramp up efforts to take politicians to task on the issue.
Indigenous graduation rates have increased since June 2011 by nearly 12 per cent for the threeyear rate and nearly 11 per cent for the five-year rate. However, both still fall short of the six-year goals outlined in the 2014 Education Sector Strategic Plan of a threeyear graduation rate of 65 per cent and a five-year rate of 75 per cent.