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.
About the AFN
- AFN Blogger
- The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of the First Nations in Canada.
4 comments:
We have to educate ourselves. Home schooling is an alternative that my adoptive siblings have all used. Uncles and Aunts are sharing their materials to keep the cost of education low.
There are many benefits to home schooling.
- 1 (one) hour of study at home = 6 hours of study at school.
- no sexually abusive teachers
- no bulling...
- no peer-pressure or name calling
- no residential school syndromes
"Education is the key to unlocking the full potential of our people, our communities and Canada. "
I totally agree.
If we First Nations were "Canadian" we would get the same monies and HUMAN RIGHTS as Canadians. We can't expect the Government of Canada to give non-Canadians money, can we?
Ha'waa!
Todd Gannyaa
in addition to my last comment...
Donate your old computer system to a First Nations Community near you.
The internet as an "eBus" with First Nation relevant educational material websites can be implemented with old donated computers (running as slow as 400mhz)
Video and Audio, including Webcam Classrooms are all very accessible even without the latest and greatest technology (which is more for gaming and databasing).
I look forward to seeing more educational material, courses for First Nations.
Ha'waa.
Todd Gannyaa
If I was the big Chief of all the Indians, I would change the language I use to communicate to the people. For example, instead of "fixing the education gap", i would use "fixing the knowledge gap."
It is unfortunate that too many First Nations youth don't see the value in a formal education. I feel that this is directly related to the sense of hopelessness. If there is now hope, then what is the point of learning in school? May as well join a gang, make some fast cash, get laid, and die young.
But the youth are not necessarily adverse to knowledge. They soak up knowledge in the streets, on the internet, where ever knowledge is to be found.
it is my belief that if they are persuaded to seek any and all knowledge through whatever sources they choose, they are more likely see the value in a formal education. The leaders should accept the fact that it may take a few generations before our people as a whole are adapted to formal structures of modern society. Until then, we should not be limited by these structures.
I like gannyaa's idea. It's a good start.
Put libraries in every Indian reserve. I know that it's easier to say this than to do it, for example the libraries in the schools of my reserve are a joke. Cut a few coffee drinker salaries in the Indian organizations, and you might free up some funds for libraries.
Kia ora!
As a Maori researcher in Aotearoa/New Zealand, I follow as much indigenous debate as I can, although I must admit it is the experiences of the ex-British colonies I find the most similarities with. Therefore i support the comments i clicked through on differences between the US First Nations histories and those of Canada (Simeone 2007, and others).
Here in Aotearoa/NZ we're sick of being poor and are increasingly seeking corporate entities to engage with others, both within Maori, within NZ, and around the world. However, the use of corporate governance 'culture' does not overide our own cultural logics. While this leads to ongoing disputes (bottom-line demands versus responsibilities to family, the environment, and to others) I see a change in attitude from people like myself (ex-angry young man!). With the world looking for alternatives, we have perspective(s) that enable the necessary juggling: communal decision-making, expanded timelines (past and forwards), and holistic viewpoints that other, non-indigenosu peoples are finally receptive to.
Also the comments on education are pertinent. The pace of change and the range of threats are such that we all have to be where such things are a normal part of discussion, over coffee or beers, with different disciplines represented by the young, i.e., university. Whether these institutions are 'mainstream' (do you have that term in Canada?) or tribal, or a mix, it is thorugh education that we can begin to understand the problems, before trying to find any answers!
Jeez, sounds a bit like a speech from 'the Man'! Sorry, feeling very idealistic today.
Kia ora koutou! Kia Kaha!
Simon Lambert
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