Mixed review for Tories’ aboriginal schools plan

OTTAWA — The federal government has tabled its First Nations education bill despite complaints that it skimps on funding and fails to give natives direct control of their education systems.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said Bill C- 33 meets five conditions outlined by the Assembly of First Nations and chiefs during a meeting in December.

“All the concerns they expressed are being addressed,” Valcourt told reporters Thursday.

He added that he hopes chiefs who oppose the legislation, dubbed the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, will change their minds after reading it.

The bill — which would provide $ 1.3 billion over three years to First Nations starting in 2016 — outlines how aboriginal communities can band together to effectively form school boards while receiving sustainable funding, a government official told a technical briefing shortly before the bill was introduced in Parliament.

Funding would flow to 600 First Nations the same way that provincial school boards receive funding, the official said.

The legislation, however, irks some First Nations with a provision that would give the federal aboriginal affairs minister the power to impose thirdparty management on underperforming schools.

A so- called joint council of education experts, appointed by the minister and First Nations would report to Ottawa about how the schools are performing. Schools would have to hire inspectors, reporting to the joint council, to ensure the act is followed and standards for instruction hours, teacher performance and curriculum are met. Schools that fall short would be placed under emergency management by the federal government.

Valcourt insists the joint councils would only give Ottawa information, not direct control.

Some First Nations object that the legislation would keep all authority in the hands of the federal government and that natives continue to lack any control over their education systems. They also say funding is insufficient.

Vice- Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says aboriginals have treaty rights to education under international law that can’t take a back seat to federal legislation.

The federal government, he adds, failed to consult in any serious way with First Nations and has ignored all concerns raised by aboriginal organizations.

“We continue to urge our First Nations in Saskatchewan to develop their own education acts to protect their inherent and treaty right to education,” Cameron said in a statement.

But Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, expressed cautious support of the bill, saying he would continue to push for total First Nations control of their schools.

“I see the key elements reflected and now First Nations must have the opportunity to fully review and fully engage on the next steps,” he said.