Okay, I/we can argue with a few points here and there but overall this is a great column! Required reading, says I, your humble scribe.
The AFN’s been raising this issue for a while now.
As Ivision points out, in spite of myths to the contrary, First Nations students receive $2,000 less in educational support than other Canadian students:
“…Simple fairness dictates that those most in need of the investment in quality education should receive the same level of funding as other Canadians. Yet the government's own figures suggest this is not the case.
According to INAC's own numbers, it spent $6,916 per native student across Canada in 2006/07. This compares with a national average of $8,165 for non-natives in 2004/05, according to Statistics Canada.”
Education is the key to unlocking the full potential of our people, our communities and Canada. We are the workforce of tomorrow. The AFN is calling for a greater investment in education because, simply, it’s an investment in our future. It’s good for all Canadians.
This is a bigger problem than just education. It’s true that “more funding” is not the answer to all our concerns - what we really need is a new system that puts First Nations in control of the decisions that affect their lives – but the fact is that since 1996 the federal government has capped funding for core services to First Nations governments at a meager 2% increase per year. You don’t need a calculator to realize that this does not keep pace with inflation or our growing, booming population. The result is First Nations governments are forced to try and do more and more with less and less every year.
What’s equally concerning is that, aside from education shortfalls, we have communities that have to make intolerable choices about building more houses OR making repairs to a crumbling school OR ensuring the drinking water is clean OR economic development etc. etc. These are choices no community should have to make in a country as rich as Canada.
So it’s really disheartening to hear people say that no more resources should be provided to First Nations right now while we tinker with funding formulas and such, because people are literally dying for help in our communities. Right now.
True, resources are not the whole answer but let’s stop the crisis and stabilize the situation so we can spark and grow First Nations economies and self-sufficiency.
4/24/08
4/19/08
National Day of Action, Take Two: Calling on All Canadians!
National Chief Phil Fontaine held a news conference here in Ottawa on Thursday (April 18) to announce the second National Day of Action to be held May 29th. The National Chief, joined by national religious, labour and student organizations, urged all Canadians to come out and show their support in calling on the federal government to work with First Nations on a positive and progressive agenda for change. Ultimately, we want to turn poverty into prosperity and we have the plan.
The National Chief is calling for peaceful demonstrations by all Canadians, though the media (of course!) has latched on to other aspects of the announcement. As have other First Nations, including some that support the 2010 Olympic Games.
It’s important to note that the National Chief never referred to “disrupting” the Games (and note further that in July the AFN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Four Host Nations to work with the organizing committee on the games). Rather, the Olympic Games shine an international spotlight on the host nation and this spotlight can be used to show the international audience and the international media the reality faced by First Nations people in Canada. Peaceful protest is not lawlessness, it’s democracy.
Anyway, the focus right now is on May 29th of this year, not 2010. Though if we’re still calling for government action by 2010, well, no doubt the Natives will really be restless!
Special added bonus blurb!: Media at the press conference were also interested in the hoped-for-soon-to-be-much-anticipated announcement on the federal government’s apology to residential schools’ survivors. The National Chief made a few notable points that you may want to checkout here.
The National Chief is calling for peaceful demonstrations by all Canadians, though the media (of course!) has latched on to other aspects of the announcement. As have other First Nations, including some that support the 2010 Olympic Games.
It’s important to note that the National Chief never referred to “disrupting” the Games (and note further that in July the AFN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Four Host Nations to work with the organizing committee on the games). Rather, the Olympic Games shine an international spotlight on the host nation and this spotlight can be used to show the international audience and the international media the reality faced by First Nations people in Canada. Peaceful protest is not lawlessness, it’s democracy.
Anyway, the focus right now is on May 29th of this year, not 2010. Though if we’re still calling for government action by 2010, well, no doubt the Natives will really be restless!
Special added bonus blurb!: Media at the press conference were also interested in the hoped-for-soon-to-be-much-anticipated announcement on the federal government’s apology to residential schools’ survivors. The National Chief made a few notable points that you may want to checkout here.
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