BRIEFING NOTE
TO: Ontario Regional Chief Charles D. Fox
Political Confederacy
C.C: Deputy Grand Chief Nelson Toulouse
Grand Chief Chris McCormick
FROM: Wendy Johnson - Education Policy Analyst
RE: First Nation Education Issues
DATE: April 2, 2003
ISSUES:
1. INAC Engagement Strategy
· The Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada presented his National Working Group on Education final report, Our Children – Keepers of the Sacred Knowledge, on February 12, 2003. Minister Nault identified that $2M would be made available for the implementation of an engagement strategy with First Nations regarding his report with AFN having a lead role.
· INAC is asking the AFN to work with them in developing and implementing this engagement strategy with First Nations and is offering part of the $2M.
· INAC is directing their regions that they will have to implement the engagement strategy and has committed to funding some organizations that are willing to implement a regional forum as part of the strategy.
· The funding being promised to organizations comes out of the $2M.
· Regional INAC officials have anticipated a time frame of June 2003 to complete the engagement.
· It remains unknown as to what the Minister’s intent is in relation to the engagement exercise and the outcome of his report.
· The Honorable Stephen Owen, ADM Joan Atkinson, Tanis Munroe (Minister Nault’s Executive Assistant) and other INAC headquarter staff met with the AFN CCOE/NIEC on March 28, 2003 to discuss and develop the engagement strategy.
· INAC was under the impression that AFN was on side and in agreement with moving forward on the engagement strategy.
Position
· Ontario representatives stated clearly that we were not prepared to develop, implement or endorse a strategy.
· Other First Nation representatives shared the same position.
· The direction from the CCOE/NIEC to the AFN was to send a letter to INAC stating that we are not prepared to entertain any notion of an engagement strategy until INAC demonstrates to First Nations that they are prepared to address First Nation education issues.
· The First Nation issue identified for INAC was the Band Operated Formula. Until there is movement here, AFN is directed not to move forward with a strategy.
2. Gathering Strength
· The initiative formally ended March 31, 2003.
· INAC was able to retain the $50M previously allocated under Gathering Strength and direct it to its education budget (A-base).
· Of the $50M, the Minister already allocated $10M to Special Education to be used within the context of the $60M for the First Nation Special Education Program (SEP)
· INAC has stated that they want to work with First Nations through the AFN to make a decision on how to allocate/spend the Gathering Strength (GS) money.
· INAC has identified 3 specific streams for utilizing GS
i) second level services in schools
ii) curriculum
iii) developing and enhancing technology
· INAC stated that GS dollars would be allocated to regions.
· INAC has unilaterally allocated $2M of GS for the Minister’s engagement strategy.
· INAC has also unilaterally allocated $900,000 of GS for their “secretariat” that deals with the Minister’s report of his national working group on education. The “secretariat” is comprised of 5 INAC headquarter staff, directed by Bob Coulter.
· Of the $50M Gathering Strength dollars, approximately $37M remains.
· Of the $37M, INAC (HQ) has already committed dollars to existing organizations
i) First Nation Education Council (FNEC) – Quebec
ii) Treaty #6 – Alberta
iii) First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) – BC
iv) First Nations Schools Associations (FNSA) – BC
v) Sioux Lookout Education Resource Centre – Ontario
vi) Sioux Lookout Virtual Centre – Ontario
· The amount of funding allocated to these organizations is unknown at this time.
· Given that GS is not allocated to INAC A-base, the funding streams have changed and the amount of funding has decreased, current projects funded under GS may be jeopardized. E.g. PTO education advisors/coordinators are funded under GS.
· Due to the allocation to A-base, the national allocations may change to nominal roll ages 4-21 as opposed to total population.
Position
· The CCCOE/NIEC directed the AFN to send a letter to INAC stating that the GS allocation remain status quo and that the $2.9M unilaterally subtracted for the INAC engagement strategy and secretariat be put back.
· INAC must find the funding within their own budget to pay their employees and implement their strategies.
3. Federal Budget announcement of $72M for First Nation Education (Feb. 18, 2003)
· INAC would like to work with First Nations via the AFN regarding this funding.
· INAC reports the following breakdown
i) First Nation Education – INAC $35M
®2003/04 = 10M
®2004/05 = 25M
ii) Support Skills and Learning – HRDC $25M
®2003/04 = 10M
®2004/05 = 15M
This funding is anticipated for training programs relating to economic development
iii) Aboriginal Post Secondary Education – Aboriginal Achievement Foundation via Heritage Canada $12M
®2003/04 = 12M
This is a one time only infusion to the Achievement Foundation to provide scholarships to Aboriginal high school graduates and PSE students. Includes Metis and Inuit.
AFN and INAC do not have links to the Foundation
INAC official Tanis Munroe reported that apparently Heritage Canada lobbied better than INAC in order to get these funds for PSE
· Out of the $72M First Nations may have input regarding $35M.
· INAC reports that the $10M identified for this year must go through the Treasury Board process, as did the SEP funding.
· Terms and conditions for the funding must be developed and approved by Treasury Board before any money can be allocated.
· This process took 2 years for SEP but INAC anticipated a shorter time frame for this money.
· INAC has stated that the $35M must be spent on
i) parental support
ii) teacher salary and recruitment
· INAC is required to build a business case for education reform
Position
· Clarification of the announcement must be made regarding how much funding is available to First Nations
· Some control must be obtained regarding the $12M for PSE under Heritage Canada given the First Nations PSE lobby regarding the reported backlog of PSE unfunded students
Analysis:
INAC is seeking support and/or endorsement from First Nations to move forward with implementing an Engagement Strategy regarding education. It is perceived by First Nations that INAC already has an agenda for the strategy however, nothing formal has been released. There is still no proof that INAC is heading toward a First Nation Education Act but suspicion still exists. Further, INAC is meeting with provincial education Ministers and other provincial education officials to discuss First Nations education as part of their engagement strategy. This is underway now.
Education in Ontario is going to face a potential decrease in funding despite retaining Gathering Strength and the Federal Budget announcement. Ontario has identified education jurisdiction as a priority area, as well as resourcing. The Band Operated Formula is long outdated and needs to be addressed in order to meet the growing needs in education associating all aspects, teacher recruitment and retention, curriculum, facility, books, materials, technology and second level services.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. It is suggested that caution be exercised in approaching INAC’s engagement strategy. It is unknown if education is headed toward a component of the legislative suite and if First Nation participation would be construed as consultation on the Minister’s agenda – what ever that may be. Minister Nault’s agenda for education is unclear at this time.
2. As a show of good faith that there is real intent to deal with education, INAC fund the Chiefs of Ontario to develop and implement a model that addresses the outdated Band Operated Formula and provide adequate resourcing to pilot the model. INAC has shown no movement in advancing First Nation issues. With the new dollars and existing money, more limitations are being put on implementation and access to services. If INAC wants First Nations to entertain engagement, then INAC has to provide tangible results in the progress of First Nation education.
3. If the Chiefs of Ontario need to respond to the engagement strategy that there be commitment to hosting a regional meeting of educators to determine an Ontario position only. Once again, caution is suggested in terms of commitment to a specific INAC strategy.
4. The Chiefs of Ontario send the message to INAC that the funds unilaterally allocated from Gathering Strength for INAC driven processes, be returned in full for regional allocations.
GENERAL COMMENTS
INAC is spearheading many initiatives associated with First Nations education that inhibit success and progress being made – PTO Review, Education and Social Policy Authority Renewal (Treasury Board renewals of programming), PSE Evaluation, Elementary Evaluation and Minister Nault’s final report of his National Working Group on Education. All of these elements affect the outcomes of First Nation education and must not be addressed in isolation. New accountability regimes are being developed and implemented prior to any new funding being utilized by First Nations. More bureaucracy is being established for without addressing the pressing issues in education.
Political Confederacy Strategic Planning Meeting - Meeting with Minister Owen – April 4, 2003- Toronto
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