Along with several other chiefs and grand chiefs, Ermineskin Cree Nation Chief Craig Mackinaw recently travelled to Ottawa to meet with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt regarding a widespread dislike of the proposed Bill C-33, also known as First Nations Control of First Nations Education.
“We went to a press conference on the rejection of Bill C-33 as presented,” said Chief Craig Mackinaw.
Mackinaw feels if the bill is passed in its current state, the federal government is essentially absolving itself of responsibility of First Nations education. Bill C-33 would put their education in the hands of a corporate structure and a regional board. “They’re looking at an education authority to be set up.”
“The government, their responsibility, it’s not theirs (any) more . . . It would take chief and council out of the picture,” said Mackinaw. This would be an aberration of the treaties, which is a huge concern and “sticking point” of his.
Bill C-33 focuses only on reserve schools. With 10 to 12 in the Maskwacis area, it affects 3,000 to 4,000 students, and numbers are expected to increase because the population is so young, says Mackinaw.
With a push to have the bill passed by the fall of 2015 and no concrete funding available to the schools until it is passed, Mackinaw is concerned a new managing party may not honour the idea of guaranteed funding.
“They’re dangling the carrot, offering this funding. But you don’t get to know how it’s going to be done,” said Mackinaw.
He says his doubts come from the ignorance and ambiguity that’s plagued their treatment over the last year. “It makes you kind of apprehensive of how things are going to happen down the road.”
“There’s a lot of uncertainties that come out of it,” he added, with regards to funding for post-secondary means as well as pre-school.
While opposing the bill, Mackinaw wants the government to look at another solution that would respect the treaties. “It could be an agreement down the road. There’s too much uncertainty.”
There’s also a deep dissatisfaction with how the First Nations community is allowed to be involved in the process of drafting the bill. “Minister Valcourt says we’re supposed to be the ones driving this act,” said Mackinaw.
However, he feels that isn’t the case and they haven’t been given the opportunity. “We need to have a proper consultation right from the beginning to end with this bill, respecting our position.”
Mackinaw says there are other aspects of First Nations education that aren’t even addressed by the bill, including head start programming and programs to aid special need students.
Tara Cutarm, communications manager for the Ermineskin Cree Nation, feels this new bill is still allowing the minister to call all the shots while the First Nations community is left to uphold the results.
Along the lines of the uncertainty that comes with the funding, she feels the government is using technicalities to dodge equality for reserve-based education. “They’re using the word comparable, comparable isn’t equality.”
Cutarm also feels more needs to be done and addressed in terms of education, rather than “throwing money at the problem” in hopes it will fix the issues.
Even with funding and top-notch schools, there is still a high percentage of attendance issues. “The issues lie with the students themselves and their home life . . . and that stems from the Residential School era,” said Cutarm.
Having attended the April 28 press conference and stating his concerns, Mackinaw says the ball is back in the government’s court. Now it’s just a waiting game for a response and baited breath to see if any changes will be made to the bill.