‘Unfortunately, we struggle:’ Sask. First Nations reflect on education gap

A provincially run school earns on average $12,000 per student in tuition funding, whereas students attending schools under the First Nation school system receive $6,500 per head in funds. The FSIN maintains their additional $8,000 accounts for language and culture training.

“We’ve waited 20 years now, our thoughts are obviously we wanted the brunt of (the funding) to happen this upcoming school season,” Cameron said. “It is what it is, but we’ll continue to advocate and lobby for what is required for our First Nation communities. A big component is funding, and that has to happen sooner much rather than later.”

Sources within the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) said they would like to see changes within the proposal application process. As it currently stands, grants are available for First Nation schools in need of funding but PAGC sources said the application windows are far too narrow to provide a fair chance; sometimes only three days.

“There needs to be statutory funding legislation so all these proposals that come in last minute can be done away with and replaced by (guaranteed) funds,” a PAGC source said.

According to the Government of Canada, it has made a five year, $2.6 billion commitment to funding First Nation education across Canada. The PAGC maintains the majority of these funds come after years four and five of a five year plan, with the last year only happening if the Liberals are re-elected in the next federal election.

Funding distributed to First Nation schools is a good start, according to Elwin Bear, the post-secondary co-ordinater of Muskoday First Nation, but he said research also needs to be done into how First Nation people have been put into the position they’re in today.

“We have to look at a historical piece. We’ve been so underfunded that instead of throwing one service at you, we have to play catch up. We need a little more than what the provincial system gets just to put us at where they were at years and years ago,” Bear said.

According to Bear, the underfunding is responsible for lower than average high school grad rates, but is adamant the solution isn’t throwing money at the problem.

“Now, unfortunately we struggle. It’s not because we chose to struggle, but certain things happened whether through government policy, or through societal racism and institutional racism and so, on that we are where we are,” he said.

A roadblock that First Nation students face while attending post-secondary institutions is a two per cent funding cap in annual increases to post-secondary education funding. The major complaint is this small increase does not account for inflation.

The Liberal government has promised to remove this cap, but Cameron said nothing has been acted on so far. He’ll meet with Carolyn Bennett, minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, in the coming week and said the cap is one of the main items on his agenda.

“Education has always been a major topic for conversation. It’s the future of our communities. Our children (need) to get a good quality education, therefore succeeding in life, becoming good role models within our communities,” Cameron said.

The Assembly of First Nations is set to discuss the education gap during their 37th annual assembly in Niagara next week.

Bryan.eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @bryaneneas

by Bryan Eneas

‘Unfortunately, we struggle:’ Sask. First Nations reflect on education gap

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