Talks underway to get NNEC teachers into STF

Representatives of the Northwest Nations Education Council (NNEC) and the Saskatchewan Teachers's Federation (STF) signed a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 15 that paves the way for negotiations to extend STF membership to teachers employed in NNEC schools.

Created in August 2005, the NNEC is the first Aboriginal education authority of its kind in the province, and possibly the country. Formed through a partnership between six First Nation communities in the North Battleford area-Little Pine, Mosquito, Sweetgrass, Red Pheasant, Poundmaker Cree, Moosomin and Lucky Man-the council provides educational services to band-operated schools.

NNEC teachers will reap a number of benefits if they're granted membership in the STF, said Gerry Guillet, director of education for the NNEC.

"I guess it'll put them on a parity with the provincial teachers in terms of salary, in terms of the pension plan, benefits package, those types of benefits for them," he said.

"It'll give them full access to professional development opportunities provided by the teachers' federation, complete access to their resource centre for teaching materials and resources. And I guess the bottom line could be as well that it would give them more of a sense of security in their teaching positions."

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) is just one step in the process of developing the NNEC , Guillet said.

"This is a unique project, I guess the only one in Canada of its nature where we are developing a school system for six First Nation bands who were previously independent."

One of the clauses in the partnership agreement signed by the First Nations when the NNEC was formed called for having teachers in band schools join a professional organization.

"The MOU certainly gave us the green light to enter into the detailed negotiations of how that would translate into services for teachers," Guillet said.

"We're very much still a federal responsibility, whereas the STF is a provincial organization, so there is, yes, some differences that we do need to negotiate on behalf of our staff-respecting chief and councils of each community, the First Nation culture, heritage and values and beliefs. So all these areas are certainly going to be on the table for detailed negotiations from this point on. We anticipate having a complete agreement for the fall of 07/08. If we can do it before, all the more power to us."

An agreement with the STF is just one of the areas the NNEC is currently working on, Guillet said. The council is also working to increase professional development opportunities for teachers and working to improve the reading and writing skills of its students. It's also begun establishing a central resource centre to be used by all member schools and has established secondary services, including a language and culture co-ordinator, an educational psychologist and a speech pathologist.

"I guess there's a lot of things happening. One could go on and on," Guillet said. "But setting up a school system or school division from zero, I guess everything is falling into place."