The federal government and First Nations leaders have made a deal that could improve education on reserves. Making it work will require goodwill to overcome generations of bitter feelings.
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced new legislation to be called the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act. The bill would give aboriginal people more control over their education and the money to back it up.
Harper promised $1.5 billion, starting next year, a promise that answers one First Nations criticism of a previous draft, which didn鈥檛 attach any cash.
First Nations need money for schools and teachers. At the same time, the federal government wants measurable results so taxpayers and First Nations know that the money is having the desired effect.
The curriculum on reserves will have to meet provincial standards and be taught by teachers with provincial certification. At the end, the high-school diplomas will have to mean what they say, so students know they are going into the world with a piece of paper that will help them on the way to a job or higher education.
The federal funding commitment includes $1.25 billion over three years, $160 million for implementation and $500 million over seven years to build new schools. The ongoing funding will include 4.5 per cent annual increases.
The capital funding will be welcome in sa国际传媒, where the Parliamentary Budget Officer said last summer that funding must increase by 50 per cent to keep First Nations schools from crumbling.
The cash won鈥檛 start rolling until after the 2015 election, and, as with any promise, it doesn鈥檛 bind future governments.
Beyond the dollars, the agreement provides First Nations with more control over the education of their 246,000 school-aged children. About 64 per cent of First Nations students attend on-reserve schools and about 31 per cent go to provincially run schools off-reserve.
According to federal government statistics, the graduation rate at First Nations schools has hovered around 35 per cent for almost 20 years. But the Assembly of First Nations sees hope in numbers from reserves in Nova Scotia that have taken control of their education and maintained graduation rates of 87 per cent.
To help create that kind of success, the agreement calls for a curriculum that builds in traditional languages and culture. It also allows creation of education authorities that will act like school boards.
Although Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo and regional chiefs stood with Harper at the announcement, First Nations people are cautious.
Even Chief Charles Weaselhead of the Blood Tribe, where the announcement was made, said: 鈥淲e agreed to host this national announcement, but in no way endorse the proposed legislation in its present form.鈥�
While that sounds like a roadblock, Weaselhead also said: 鈥淲e are open to continued dialogue and building relationships.鈥�
In sa国际传媒, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, which speaks for the 130 reserve schools in the province, said it welcomes the focus on education, but wants to see the details. As with other First Nations representatives, it wants the proposed bill to be a framework for discussion, rather than a fait accompli.
This agreement is not the magic spell that will fix the many problems in First Nations education. Money won鈥檛 do it. Local control won鈥檛 do it. Laws won鈥檛 do it. All those things must be backed up with co-operation among governments and First Nations, and support from the ordinary people on every reserve.
The dismal education of First Nations children has for generations reinforced the circle of poverty and hopelessness. Despite everything that has gone before, everyone involved must work to break that circle.
