Once again our voices are needed to protect and improve our post secondary education funding.
To learn more read the memo from Cindy Fisher and click the links below.

Memo from Cindy Fisher:

First Nation Post Secondary Review

The Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development met on February 26, regarding the issue of post secondary education for aboriginal people.

As you are all aware the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has been reviewing the post secondary education program. The audit has now been completed and should be posted within the next 30 days.

INAC representative - Neil Yeates (Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) was accompanied by: Christine Cram (Assistant Deputy Minister for Education and Social Program Partnerships, Allan MacDonald - Office of the Federal Interlocutor and Christopher Dechesnes head of Inuit Relations Secretariat.

Order of the day

Provide a briefing from Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development regarding the issue of post secondary education for aboriginal people.

Scope of the Discussion:

INAC opened the discussion by providing an overview of the elements of the review and members of the committee were given opportunity to pose questions.

Scope of the Review as reported by Neil Yeates (Associate Deputy Minister INAC):
· Options for Post Secondary Student Program delivery and administration
· Number of students accessing post secondary program is going down while population is rising
· There needs to be better information on results being achieved by the program student based information system
· Require better more accurate reporting procedures to Canada
· How to increase better access to post secondary to ensure the maximum number of students are benefiting
· How to support students through other Government of Canada Programs
· Accountability

As reported by INAC they are looking at a number of options for delivering post secondary program for First Nation Students. Some of the options include:

· The study has looked at the possibility of taking Post Secondary Support Program out of the hands of the First Nation.

· The review is looking at the most effective delivery of the program - whether through INAC, directly to the First Nation, 3rd party organizations or closer affiliation with the Canada Student Loans Program.
· Throughout the discussions it was mentioned on several occasions that PSSP is the only program that is 100% grant system and that there is no loan component and some decision need to be made on whether it should be 100% grant.

· Canada student loans program is also an option that is being examined and First Nation students on reserve may be required to apply for student loans.

· Examination of an income-tested option is also being considered.

If any of these options are considered we can be assured that there will not be a positive outcome for our students. We are already lagging behind and any of these options would only set us back even farther.

One of the grave concerns that we should all be mindful of is that during all of the discussion, never once was education referred to at a treaty right inherent right, nor was the word treaty mentioned. We need to hold the government accountable and remind them of their fiduciary responsibility for education.
Consultation appears to be an after thought and there seems to be a pre-determined outcome. First Nations were not at the table from the onset of the consultation process as partners in the review, nor were they involved in identifying the options or outcomes. The Deputy Minister stated that the Minister wrote to the first nations to acknowledge the level of interest that they have in this program and to indicate that, yes, he would, certainly, be ensuring that there was a full hearing of their perspectives on these issues. A letter to the Chiefs asking for their input is not considered consultation.
We must ensure that we have the participation of ALL First Nations, and must engage in the discussions, highlight our concerns and ensure that any recommendations and changes to Post Secondary be driven by the First Nation.
The future of our children is at stake and any decision we make today will have lasting impacts for the future.
Respectfully,

Cindy Fisher, President

End memo

Please select a link or document below for more information:

Chiefs in Ontario Encourage First Nation Direction in Reform of Post Secondary Education. Read more...

Mike White: Canada must help aboriginal peoples close education gap...  Read more...

40th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

INAC presents options to change the post secondary student support program 
         Please select desired document format to read more.

         Zipped Word document  PDF document

INAC AUDIT OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM.... Read more...

No Higher Priority. Post Secondary Education.... Read more...

Auditor Generals Report 2004... Read more...

PETITION TO THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT CONCERNING THE RIGHT OF FIRST NATIONS TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Please select desired document format to download petition.

Zipped Word document  PDF document