Premier Jim Prentice meets with Alberta Chiefs and the Minister of Education

Premier Jim Prentice met with some Alberta Chiefs and the Minister of Education on Friday to discuss the importance of enhancing First Nations education in the province.
 
The number one goal reached from the meeting was to ensure that First Nations students are getting the same educational opportunities as any other student in Alberta.
 
Along with equal opportunity, Premier Prentice stressed the importance of enhancing their identities as Canadians, Albertans and Aboriginals.
 
“First Nation jurisdictional authority… respect the desire of our First Nations to protect their language, to protect their culture, to protect traditional knowledge and to make sure that young First Nations citizens not only have the opportunity for the same educational opportunities, but they’re raised with a deep pride about who they are as Albertans and Canadians… the pride that they have in their First Nation heritage.”
 
The progress made at the gathering was between the Alberta government and the province’s First Nations, rather than focusing on what happens federally.
 
The first order of business is to make sure the local partnership in Alberta is strong, the respect for First Nations jurisdiction is in place and federal funding is secured for equivalency in education.