Representatives of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs invited various people from the different regions of Canada, this week.  The purpose of this meeting was to give the Canadian regions the chance to have input on the development of policies for Education.  The gathering took place in the city of Montreal.  It was decided that there would be a follow-up meeting on April 26-28, 2005 again in Montreal.  Plans are underway for the development of an action plan for the Education sector with a close look on the funding in all areas of Education.  Strong messages were delivered to INAC on the need for additional funding in Education as well as the need for improved policy.

On March 15, 2005, The Chiefs of the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey Participating Communities gathered at the Membertou Convention Centre to sign a new five year funding agreement which will allow for the flow of approximately $145 Million over the next five year. The funding is to provide for programming for K4 – 12, Post-Secondary student support, support funding, capital, and governance. The first funding Agreement was signed on February 14, 1998. Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey continues to be the only organization in Canada with this type of Agreement.

View of the foyer of First Nations University in Regina where the National AFN-INAC Post Secondary National Forum was held on April 14 & 15, 2005.

This PSE forum was a two day event; that focused on setting out issues that communities are facing in the area of PSE. The first day focused on Policy issues or the framework that guides how the program is run.

A common theme that arose was the Government saying that PSE is not a guaranteed program, and is only available as a social policy. The government is only required to provide P-12 or secondary education that the Federal government will and has to only match what the provinces provide. Since the provinces do not provide free PSE then neither will the Feds.

Most of the various First Nation reps from across the country were saying it is a “Treaty right”.

MK’s presentation focused on the issue of “Equity” in the receipt of benefits “Real or Perceived” by living in Canada, by being a citizen of Canada. When people move to Canada from poorer countries they immediately get a higher standard of living than from the country they left. I believe that Canada when compared against all other countries in the World, remember folks the “WORLD”, Canada has consistently placed in the top 5

(five). So I guess “we”, the people who live in Canada, must have it really, well no wonder the people of the World look at us with envy in their eyes.

Now back to planet earth, back to reality or the reality faced by First Nation Peoples across Canada.

A UN report released in early April compared the living conditions faced by First Nation people on and off reserve. They took these conditions using Data provided by Canada and came up with statistics that set out our standard of living as if we were a separate country. The UN researcher then compared these standards of living and placed us at 49^th in the world. Yes, forty-ninth in the world, which puts us with some of the poorest countries in Africa etc.

Now forget this dialogue (about who is right) that the Feds have got us in and ask why the opportunities that those in the covet from Canada are not being received by us the First Nations people of Canada.

It seems the Government is providing forums/conferences and even a Royal Commission (RCAP) to explore and not do anything.

MK stated very eloquently that this talking has to stop, that action is needed. What is the Federal Government waiting for; for another UN study that puts us at 50^th, or 60^th or worse in the World.

Hey look in your own home before you start going out helping the other poor around the World.

Later that evening the participants were treated to a wonderful display of singing and dancing by our brothers from the area. The area around Regina is home to the Dakota and the Plains Cree.

Grand Entry Dancers

More dancers, young and old

The supper that evening was the traditional food of the Plains; the Buffalo or more exactly the American Plains Bison. Interestingly it does not taste like Moose or Deer but more like beef. Pictured above is the resident drum group made up of staff and students.

Day two of the PSE forum focused on Funding and the related accountability framework. As with day one the Government seemed to imply that the amount now set aside to pay for PSE was adequate and that we should be happy to be even getting this amount. The Federal Government was a kind and benevolent master who treated its First Nations fairly and equitably. The implication is that it must be our fault that we are as poor as we are and that we must make changes to truly benefit from being a part of this wonderful country.

WOW! Talk about blaming the victim for the wrongs being done to them.

MK reminded the Government that it is morally wrong to do this and that neither is this “poverty” an endemic/intrinsic condition of being a First Nation individual or community. Rather the government was reminded it is rather an out-come “poverty” of government policy which they are now trying to blame on us.

MK reminded the Government that even when their processes have identified how their funding is so sorely lacking in PSE, Social, Housing, Health, Education, etc. they have not moved to remedy the situation.

The smokescreen the Government has been using is accountability. Here even the Auditor General of Canada has stated in her last report that we as First Nation organizations, communities provide more reports than anyone else. The rate of non-compliance with this reporting structure is less than half of one percent. Yet the government is using this as an excuse not to provide needed dollars to alleviate this poverty. Especially to a program that is providing the only clear way out of this poverty by our people. At present as many as 10,000 First Nation students across Canada are unable to attend PSE institutes because of a lack of funding. That many First Nation communities are falling into debt, due the extra or over-committed students they are carrying.

Stop making us wait!

The next major point is the government’s insistence on developing a one policy model for the country. MK clearly stated that a return to an E-12 type document is not where we should be going. MK agrees that a generic policy doc as posted on our website at www.kinu.ca is preferable. This model PSE policy doc is based on premises that any policy should lead to the benefit of each community. Communities should be able to prioritize programs that will help its community, and allow it to set out who gets priority to get funded. If the community needs teachers/social workers/Dr.’s/lawyers then the policy should have the flexibility for the community to achieve.

A report or an abstract of this meeting will be posted on the AFN web-site in the future. The goal of the PSE national committee is to develop a doc within three years that will be forwarded to the Federal Government, for submission to Treasury Board.

This will be the 6^th year that this symposium will be offered on May 18, 19 & 20, 2005 at St. F.X. University in Antigonish.  The success of this forum can be attributed to the efforts of the St. F.X. Education Department and Mi’kmaw participants who have facilitated this forum.

With the input and assistance of a committee drawn from First Nation educators in Nova Scotia, the symposium this year will focus on developing a framework document to Mi’kmaw Second Language.  It will present a vision, principles and strategy statements for Mi’kmaw language instruction from P-12.

This forum continues to be supported by Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, Nova Scotia Department of Education, and Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

Previous conferences have focused on promotion of Mi’kmaw language in the schools as this most precious of gifts is being lost.  The promotion and development of school-based strategies to stop and reverse this trend of language loss is the ultimate goal of this group.

Further information on this symposium and on previous conferences can be obtained from:

Jeff Orr, St. F. X. University, Antigonish, NS, Tel.: 902-867-2214        jorr@stfx.ca

Teams from across Canada travelled to Miramichi, New Brunswick this week both Male and Female to play in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship.  Team Atlantic, Boys team played very well this year placing first overall before going into the quarter finals.  Nathan Francis from New Brunswick and Scott Sack from Nova Scotia were selected for the All- Star line-up.  Both players lead the scoring race for Team Atlantic.

Team Atlantic played Saskatchewan in the Semi-Finals defeating them 7-6 before advancing to the Gold Medal round.  In the Gold Medal round Team Atlantic played against Ontario North, losing in a well played game going into overtime and losing 4-3 to take the silver medal.  We are very proud of Team Atlantic this is the first year that Team Atlantic has made it to the medal rounds.  Well done, Boys.

The girls played some pretty tough games but did not make it to the play-offs better luck next year.