Education panel member willing to take backseat to allow FSIN to deal with other issues

Education is important and Saskatchewan is the province with the most to gain – and  to lose – when it comes to First Nation education. But right now there are other issues that take precedence.

“I’m assuming (First Nations) policy makers, people in Regina, people in Ottawa are watching what’s currently unfolding right now. I think they should be spending their political capital on some more serious issues (than the education panel),” said George Lafond, member of the National Panel of Experts struck earlier this year to engage discussion on First Nations education.

Lafond, of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, who served as vice-chief and chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, is following the political and legal controversy that has led to the resignationof Guy Lonechild as Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. When those issues are resolved, Lafond would like the opportunity to meet with FSIN’s Education Committee and explain the mandate of his panel more fully in the hopes of bringing the FSIN on board.

At the beginning of August, the FSIN announced it would not be participating in the panel that was jointly struck by the Assembly of First Nations and the federal government. The panel is tasked with engaging First Nations people, who have an interest in education, and putting together a report on how the education system can be enhanced and the outcomes of learners improved. That report with recommendations is to be delivered later this year.

In a news release issued by the FSIN, Vice Chief Lyle Whitefish stated that Saskatchewan’s 74 members would join First Nations from Quebec and northern Ontario, now bringing the total to 230, that would not participate in the panel.

“We want our treaty rights to education upheld,” said Whitefish. “With federal legislation, the federal government will assume full control over First Nations education; they will drive it, develop it, change it, and do whatever they want with it, and First Nations children will be forced to dance to their tune, again.”

The announcement came after the panel travelled to Sasakatoon and met with a number of First Nations representatives to explain the panel’s mandate as well as to learn what the panel could do to help First Nations, many of which have already taken initiatives to improve education for their band members.

“I respect the position of the FSIN, but I’m not fully aware of how they came to their conclusion,” said Lafond.  “By no means are we promoting or pre-empting any of their discussions by considering arbitrarily a model.  Our mandate is to listen and to make the recommendations to the Assembly of First Nations and the federal government.”

Already the panel has heard a number of recurring issues surrounding education on First Nations.

Reaching young people at an early age is important.
“That leads to the issue of health conditions (for) many of our young people walking into kindergarten, do they have the right parental and community support?” said Lafond.

Having the right tools means being able to offer special needs program and provide security in the learning environment.

“Once you start looking at that issue, you can’t shy away from the issue of funding,” said Lafond. Funding covers a wide range, all the way from hiring qualified teachers and administration to in-services for teachers and support services for students.

The issue of funding also raises the examination of the relationship between First Nations and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. That relationship, said Lafond, remains one of simply ANAC providing the funds for education and nothing else.

Allowing teachers to “constantly become a better teacher,” said Lafond has also been voiced.

Lafond has not only served with the STC, he has taught at the high school and post-secondary levels.

“When you take a look at this issue … when you take a look at a region, Saskatchewan has the most to gain and yet the most to lose on any front, whether it’s education, health or economic development, you begin to understand and appreciate … the position taken by the FSIN should it be decided upon with the proper debate and the proper discussion,” said Lafond.

He would not say if the FSIN’s decision to boycott the national panel was based on the “proper debate and proper discussion.”

“Maybe my interpretation is wrong. Maybe there’s a bit more deep-seated issues surrounding the panel than legislation,” said Lafond.

According to FSIN’s news release, the FSIN is in the process of collecting information directly from First Nations Elders and communities regarding “what a truly Treaty-based education system would look like.” A parallel report from First Nations in Saskatchewan, Quebec and Northern Ontario will be delivered to ANAC and the AFN.