Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indian Act
Know Your Rights
Criminal Law
Child Protection
Fair Decision Making
The government made binding promises to First Nations about education.
The numbered Treaties place obligations on the government about First Nation education. These were important promises as the First Nations saw that their world was changing and wanted future generations to be prepared for this.
The written text included the limitation that the government could decide if a school was advisable, something that the record of the oral negations do not mention.
Her Majesty, the Queen, agrees to maintain schools for instruction in such reserves hereby made as to her Government of her Dominion of Canada may seem advisable, whenever the Indians of the reserve shall desire it.
I am glad to learn that some of you wish your children to learn the cunning of the white man and on application of a Band, a school will be established
— Alexander Morris ~ during the negotiation of Treaty 3
The government provides funding to on-reserve schools but this funding is significantly less than funding for schools off reserves. Limited funding is available for post-secondary education both on and off reserve. This funding is not available to all First Nations Members. It is only available to members registered as an Indian under the Indian Act. Underfunding of both on-reserve schools and post-secondary education of First Nations Members is an ongoing issue.
This issue was recognized in this Call to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
We call on the federal government to draft new Aboriginal education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Aboriginal peoples. The new legislation would include a commitment to sufficient funding.
Residential Schools
Far from fulfilling the Treaty promise to provide education on reserves when a First Nation desired this, the government established the cruel residential school system.
Parents were forced to send their children to these schools and could be jailed if they refused. In these schools children faced inhumane and deadly conditions They were taken away from their families and forced to give up their languages and cultures.
