By paNOW Staff

PAGC reiterates opposition to federal education act

Nov 7, 2013 | 4:04 PM

Weeks after the First Nations Education Act legislation was officially unveiled online, the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) issued a statement expressing its opposition to the draft act.

The federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development released the draft legislation online in late October. The act would put the power to enforce standards and regulations for schools located on First Nations in the hands of the federal government.

In September, the PAGC announced that its First Nations members would be drafting their own individual education acts, which would recognize aboriginal culture, language and the First Nations’ jurisdiction over education.

In a statement issued Thursday, PAGC Grand Chief Ron Michel said the federal government hasn’t come into the First Nations’ communities for discussions, and haven’t consulted with them on ways to improve educational outcomes.

“As First Nations, we are tired of the federal government dictating what is best for First Nations people. The government talks about our underfunded schools as if funding doesn’t mean anything.”

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Michel further stated that First Nations students in First Nations-run schools in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have higher graduation rates than those in provincial schools.

“Yet they are withholding the funding. There is no funding for culture and language, while Francophone school divisions receive three times the funding to deliver culture and language programming.”

He added the First Nations must “continue to protest this loud and hard.”

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