TO: Chiefs-in-Assembly
DATE: June 14-15-16, 2005
FROM: Karihwakeron Tim Thompson
RE: Cabinet Committee announcements on Education and the First Ministers Meeting

Issue:

Education is one of several priority areas being considered in the Prime Minister’s Roundtable process which will culminate in announcements at the completion of the First Ministers Meeting on Aboriginal issues in November, 2005. The outcomes, at this point, are uncertain.

Background:

In April, 2004 the Prime Minister of Canada met with the leadership of five National Aboriginal organizations and subsequently announced a national roundtable process to achieve “transformative change” on six priority issues (negotiations, accountability, health, economic development, housing, and lifelong learning) leading to a Cabinet Committee retreat in the spring of 2005. The process has been coordinated by the Privy Council Office, with INAC having the lead role on lifelong learning.

Until recently communications from government indicated that the Cabinet Committee retreat and the First Ministers Meeting would be separate and distinct processes which would “inform one another”. It is evident after the May 31 meeting that the processes are indeed linked.

In December 2004 the AFN Chiefs in Assembly passed Resolution #103 documenting the expectations of transformative change in the roundtable on lifelong learning.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the outcomes of the Life Long Learning Round Table will include the following:

• A demand that a statement by the federal government be made that First Nations education is an inherent Aboriginal and Treaty right, from ECD to PSE/Skills Training;
• A demand that the federal government recognize that the implementation of First Nations jurisdiction over education must be First Nations driven;
• A demand that the federal government work with First Nations to develop mechanisms to recognize First Nations controlled ECD centres, First Nations education governance authorities, and First Nations controlled Post Secondary Institutions and trades and technology institutions;
• A demand that any mechanisms include adequate resources for First Nations to implement high quality culturally focused First Nations’ controlled education systems;
• A demand that major new policy, program or legislative initiative be brought to the AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly for approval;
• A demand that the Federal government affirm its fiduciary obligations by providing adequate resources as an ongoing investment to enable First Nations to continue developing and implementing First Nations education systems; and

FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that the results and recommendations arising from the Life Long Learning Round Tables and the Cabinet Committee Retreat be brought back to the AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly for review and approval.

Current Status/Analysis:

Cabinet Committee Retreat

The Cabinet Committee Retreat occurred on May 31, 2005 in Ottawa. The Government of Canada tabled a status report on sectoral negotiations to date. The education update provided is as follows:

Achieving Results in Life Long Learning

Support a one window approach, systems development and innovative approaches in education:

• Develop approach for single-window First Nations and Inuit Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) programming and application of the QUAD principles (quality, universality, accessibility and developmental);
• Support discussions on First Nations jurisdiction of First Nations education;
• Support development/enhancement of regionally-based First Nations education systems to provide school-board type services for Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools on-reserve;
• Support for school-based innovations in both on and off reserve Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools; and
• Develop performance and reporting measures (within both Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and First Nations education systems).

The update further calls for acting upon life long learning “in tandem with First Ministers Meeting process”. It is expected that financial commitments are being considered, but will not be announced until the First Ministers Meeting.

It is unusual that the Government of Canada continues to utilize the term “lifelong learning”. In preparation for the Cabinet retreat, AFN notified First Nations that there was resistance in dealing with education outside of K-12 boundaries. It should be noted that memoranda to Cabinet have been submitted to deal with First Nations education systems development (no details have been shared), and the transfer of ECD initiatives from Health Canada and HRSD to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In a Government of Canada document dated September 10, 2004 anticipating outcomes of the Lifelong Learning roundtable process leading to the Cabinet Committee retreat, it was identified that First Nations lifelong learning activities should be consolidated in one federal department, and further identified potential program investments including school board type authorities and “investments at key transition years”. Notably the document does not envision the recognition of First Nations jurisdiction over education.

First Ministers Meeting:

The First Ministers meeting on Aboriginal issues is scheduled to take place in November 2005 and will address relationships, health, housing, and education. Working groups have been formed to develop initiatives for the consideration of the First Ministers and leaders of the five National Aboriginal organizations. By the time of the AOCC, at least three working group meetings will have occurred on education.

The Working Group is discussing the possibility of a multi party accord on recognizing First Nations education jurisdiction. This is in the developmental stages. As of writing of this briefing note the Accord there has been no consideration of the wording of an Accord by the working group.

The Working Group has been informed that deliberations are to remain focused on K-12, with the possibility of investments at key transition years.

Next Steps

• Continue to monitor and participate in education process relating to the Cabinet Committee retreat and First Ministers meeting;
• Maintain AFN Resolution #103 from December 2004 as a basic standard for “transformative change” in education.