First Nations Education Act relieves the government of responsibility.

John Richards and Michael Mendelson in the Globe and Mail outline the essentials of the recently released bill draft for the First Nations Education Act. The act defines the responsibilities of the reserve schools; for instance, the designation of a school inspector and director of education, and community education committees. The First Nations have been given three options in terms of governance: They can continue to run schools under the standards according to the new act. They can enter into partnerships with nearby provincial school districts. They can form First Nations school board of various reserve schools. The act outlines in detail what the First Nations need to do; however, it leaves out crucial details of what the government will contribute to this act. According to surveys and research the First Nations youth is at great risk from lack of reforms and government support. The First Nations are insistent that the government add a statutory commitment to funding in order to make this act successful.




Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/time-to-negotiate-a-schools-act-for-first-nations/article15308627/

Education on the reserves being overhauled

John Ibbitson and Gloria Galloway for The Globe and Mail report that a review of the First Nations Education Act has revealed that many schools on reserves fall short of the province school standards. These changes will be needed in order to help break the cycle of underperformance that contributes to the poverty on reserves. Debates between First Nations leaders, Ottawa, parents, reserve leaders and students will make it harder for Ottawa to push this plan into action for the start of the 2014 educational year. Marley Googoo, chief Assembly of First Nations, says that many problems with the Education Act could have been prevented to begin with if First Nations leaders had been included in the process at the offset. Some issues that the schools are facing are due to lack of funds provided by the federal government, and this new act will not be able to solve those problems because it does not recognize the issue.

Read more about the issue: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-government-set-to-enforce-standards-for-schools-on-reserves/article14981123/

First Nations give United Nations an earful

Tyler Clarke reports that the Prince Albert Grand Council's 12 member bands are joining hands with 74 bands within the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and rejecting the federal government's First Nations Education Act. They will be proposing their own education acts based on the cultural needs of their bands. The bands will have a chance to meet with the United Nations rapporteur on the rights of the indigenous peoples. During the few minutes they will get with Anaya, the bands have put together points in their favour citing Article 14 of the United Nations Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, which states that First nations have the right to establish and design their own education systems. The band members will also use the meeting to point out other ways the Canadian Government is ignoring the United Nations Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous Peoples.



Read more: http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Local/2013-10-09/article-3422927/United-Nations-to-get-an-earful-from-Sask.-First-Nations/1

First Nations take control of their health care in BC

Peter O'Neil at the Vancouver Sun gives us details about a new health care action being taken by the federal government in BC. The federal government, under a 10-year life agreement, is handing over the budget, a staff of more than a hundred people and the offices to a newly formed body known as First Nations Health Authority. The newly formed authority will receive $377.8 million budget from the federal government bringing the grand total to $4.7 billion over the 10-year agreement. The authority will also receive $83.5 million from the BC government. Despite weariness exhibited from some of the staff being transferred, but Sto:lo Tribal Council Grand Chief Doug Kelly, also chairman of the First Nations Health Council, is set to make it a success. 

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/First+Nations+take+control+their+health+care/8980854/story.html 

iPhone app for Aboriginal Youth.

Chris Zdeb at the Edmonton Journal reportes that the rates of obesity among Canadian Aboriginal Youth are strikingly high. Kyle Wolfe, a volunteer on a reserve community south of Edmonton, places blame on lack of facilities for Aboriginal Youth to indulge in healthy activities. That's what made him download the free app called 'Spirit Runner.' It is an app, founded and designed in Edmonton, to encourage youth to pursue more healthy and positive activities. The icon for the app has been designed by aboriginal artist Jessica Desmoulin. Using the app on a regular basis Chelsea Wahsatnow is now a regular gym-goer and says the encrouraging statements embedded within the app have helped her come this far.

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Spirit+Runner+active+aboriginal+youth+developed+Edmonton/8974476/story.html

First Nations band cuts welfare in favour of jobs.

Matt Gurney's article in the National Post outlines how a small Saskatchewan First Nations band, Little Pine, decided to employ its unemployed band members instead of paying them welfare. The entire process was done in various steps involving assessing the availability of work opportunities in the community, collecting resumes, providing necessary work training where needed, and also establishing a bus service for those band members. Earlier some band members were unemployed simply because they did not have transportation to get them to their jobs. To set up training and the bus service the community raised money on its own. The First Nations consider this a step towards independence and the assertion of independence.


Read the article in detail at: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/09/25/matt-gurney-how-a-first-nations-band-is-fixing-its-big-welfare-problem-with-a-small-solution/ 

Document on display.

Peter Robb of the Ottawa Citizen reports on the display of a key document outlining the relationship between the Crown and aboriginal peoples. A proclamation issued by King George III in 1763, it is the first document that recognizes the right of the First Nations over a vast amount of Canadian land. It further recognizes the aboriginal entitlement to land and states that the Crown is legally obliged to consult with the aboriginal peoples in matters pertaining to their rights.

Read more about the document: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/travel/document+between+Crown+First+Nations+display+Museum+Civilization/8933837/story.html

Truth and Reconciliation Week

Kim Pemberton covers the Truth and Reconciliation Week celebrations for the Vancouver Sun. The week is celebrated to mark the dark period in Canadian history reigned by Indian residential school program. During the 1870s close to 150,000 children were taken off the reserves, away from their parents, and put into residential schools as part of the the government's program. Survivors recall being abused, frightened and beaten during their stay at the residential schools. This week, celebrated from September 16 - 22, is marking the re-emergence of the First Nations culture. Popular activities during the week include canoeing to False Creek. First Nations chief Alteo welcomes First Nations students from around Canada gathering in Vancouver to participate in the educational activities planned to help educate them about their heritage and culture.

Read more about the celebrations at: http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/First+Nations+canoe+gathering+marks+start+Truth+Reconciliation+Week/8924481/story.html

Going back to the Colonial System?

Angelica Montgomery writes about the steps taken by Mollen Dupuis,  co-organizer of the Quebec branch of the Idle No More movement, regarding the Values Charter issued in Quebec. Dupuis has made an interesting comment on the latest rules being laid down by the government regarding religious and spiritual symbols. She views it as a return to the colonial system that Canadians rebelled against 480 years ago. Dupuis is encouraging First Nations to sport spiritual symbols as a protest. And she is blasting the Quebec government for having ignored the values of the First Nations in the province. The charter, however, does not affect the Aboriginal Peoples as they function as an independent nation.  Pauline Marois, premier of Quebec, is heading out Nunavik for a series of announcements. 

Read more at: http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10587869

Renewable Energy Key for Healthy First Nations Towns

Robert Daniel (Bob) Nault shares his thoughts on the need for renewable energy sources for First Nations towns, Canada, in a guest column for The Chronicle Journal. He writes that First Nations in northern and remote locations are burdened by energy charges that, even with subsidies, exceed those paid by First Nations in other areas of North America. As advocates of sustainability, the First Nations deserve more opportunities to explore and implement plans leading to renewable sources of energy. He also says that such initiatives will create jobs and also a healthy environment for First Nations towns. The main issue with energy conservation plans is making a selection between a "smart grid" and a "micro grid," choosing the one which helps save and store energy best.

Read more about the need for renewable energy for First Nations at: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/content/news/local/2013/09/07/renewable-energy-key-first-nations-towns