Mattagami, Ontario
April 9, 2013
Check against delivery
Good afternoon, and thank you for being here today.
I offer a warm welcome to Chief Walter Naveau, Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit, Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic, National Chief Atleo, Chief Stand Beardy, Minister Liz Sandals, the NAN Education Committee, community members, students, and other invited guests.
I am pleased that my first trip to Northern Ontario as Minister is for such an historic announcement.
We are here today to talk about a priority we all share: improving First Nation education. We all agree that First Nation students should have the same quality of education and, in turn, the opportunities that it creates, as all other students in Ontario.
Regardless of whether we have school-age children of our own or not, education is an issue that concerns us all.
All of us benefit from a well-educated population.
A good education opens doors, creates opportunity and leads to a job.
This in turn contributes to healthier, more self-sufficient and prosperous communities.
And that is something we all want. It is good for First Nations and it is good for Canada.
But ensuring that we achieve this goal for First Nation students requires that we work together, because we all have a role to play in giving them access to the quality education they need to build a successful future for themselves and their communities.
Today’s announcement is a concrete example of what is possible when we work together.
We’re here today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the federal government, the province of Ontario and participating Nishnawabe Aski Nation First Nations.
This is the first education agreement of its kind in Ontario.
It commits us to working together in five key areas:
- Ensuring strong student support services
- Ensuring a First Nation focused curriculum
- Improving the governance and administration of schools on reserve
- Expanding human resources by increasing the participation of First Nation staff and Elders so that schools on reserve have the expertise they need, and
- Increasing parental participation in their children’s education.
This agreement is important because it demonstrates in a concrete way that our Government is committed to creating education solutions that will lead to improved graduation rates, while reflecting and respecting local needs.
It is similar in approach to what has worked in other jurisdictions, such as British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick, as well as in Saskatchewan with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and in Quebec with the First Nations Education Council of Quebec.
These agreements reflect the perspectives and concerns of the communities they serve, which is vital if we are to succeed in creating education systems that truly meet the needs of First Nation students.
And that is one of the reasons we are holding intensive consultations with First Nation leaders, educators and community members on the development of a First Nations Education Act.
Your input is critical if the Act is to achieve our objective of improving the educational experience and graduation rates of First Nation students.
It is important that members of the Nishnawabe Aski First Nations participate in the upcoming consultations so that the experience of developing the agreement we are here today to sign can be shared with other interested parties.
By providing your perspectives you will help to ensure that when the legislation is drafted it creates standards, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate local and regional concerns.
Once drafted, the legislation will be shared with First Nation communities across Canada for their input, as well as with provincial governments and other parties interested in First Nation education.
We are proud to be working with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Province of Ontario. It is as a result of partnerships like this one that First Nation children will receive the education they require to succeed.
I would like to thank and congratulate everyone for their commitment and dedication to making this Memorandum of Understanding a reality. And I would particularly like to wish the children of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation every success in the future. Thank you.
