First Nation woman faces barriers sending children to off-reserve school

One Saskatchewan mother of two is learning that First Nations’ right to an education is valid, but not very flexible for making exceptions.

Miranda Moore of Kinistin Saulteaux Nation has been fighting to admit her two children into elementary and secondary school off her reserve, but with every step she takes her request is denied.

Moore made the decision to move back to her home reserve in March 2009. Her First Nation does have an elementary/secondary school available to children living on their reserve, but Moore said it is simply not good enough for her kids.

As the former Director of Operations for the Kinistin band, Moore said she has witnessed too many students graduate from the band school and not be at the same grade level as their peers in the Provincial school.

“When they actually hit the provincial school system they are already a grade or two behind,” said Moore. “It’s an unacceptable standard of care.”

Moore is determined to give both her 9-year-old and 14-year-old the best education possible regardless of who she has to go through.

After receiving a less than positive response from her band office and Saskatchewan’s Northeast School District (NESD), Moore wrote an 11-page letter to Saskatchewan’s Deputy Premier for the Minister of Education, Ken Krawetz, on March 15.

She explained in detail the rejection she has faced from trying to register her children in an elementary and secondary school within NESD. Children who do not reside within the NESD district do not receive direct admittance without an agreement between the band along with tuition payments per child.

Moore was so determined to allow her children to have access to what she believes is a superior education, that she made a tough decision to separate from her two children.

“What we have had to do is move them with extended family into the local town to get around this whole thing,” said Moore. “It is not a resolution because I want my kids home with me.”

Assistant Deputy Minister Darren McKee confirmed that his department received Moore’s inquiry, but that there is not too much they can do to help.

He confirmed that Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada (INAC) does have a specific formula to provide education funds for each child on a First Nation reserve. However, it is often not enough that is required for each student in most provincial schools.

McKee said on average each band will receive approximately $7,000 a year or less per child that is qualified for on-reserve education, whereas; most provincial schools request up to $9,000 a year to educate their students. Mckee added that in a situation such as Moore’s, where the reserve does supply the schooling needed, it is typically up to the band to make up the difference of cost – extra money that isn’t always available in First Nations’ communities that are already struggling to stretch education dollars, said McKee.
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education has responded to Moore’s letter, hopeful that she will sort through the details with her band.

“We have encouraged her to work with her First Nations’ school agreement,” said McKee.

A letter delivered to Moore from the Chief’s office at Kinistin Saulteaux Nation explains that there is little they can do to help while they receive $4,700 per student a year from INAC – almost half the amount that is required for standard tuition in Provincial schools.

However, Saskatchewan’s Regional Director of INAC, Riel Bellegarde, has also responded to Moore’s predicament and assured her that INAC is prepared to absorb the additional costs involved in sending her children to school within NESD.

Moore said she relayed INAC’s willingness to pay the school district directly to NESD, but was shocked to find out they would only accept payment through the band, not INAC.

Phone calls made to NESD and Kinistin’s school superintendent were not returned.