CONFEDERACYOFTREATYSIXFIRSTNATIONS

May28,2014
ForImmediateRelease

RE:MinistersresponsetorejectionofBillC-33
TheChiefsofTreatySixwouldliketoofferanimmediateresponsetoMinister
ValcourtsstatementregardingtherejectionofBillC-33bytheAssemblyofFirst
Nations.OnMay27,2014theChiefsinAssemblyinOttawadidvotetorejectBillC-33,
afailedattemptatunilaterallylegislatingFirstNationson-reserveeducation.TheTreaty
SixChiefsinattendancefullysupportedtheresolution,andthepositionputforthof
restartinganhonourableprocessofconsultationaroundFirstNationsEducation.From
theonset,theChiefsofTreatySixhadtakenexceptiontotheiterativeprocessutilized
byIndianandNorthernAffairsCanada(INAC),integrationoftheNationalPanelreport
oneducationandtheoversteppingofthenationalorganizationinnegotiatingthe
agreement.
Subsequently,theremovalofthebudgetedamountof$1.9Billionfurther
disappointstheChiefsandcallsforsomepointsofclarification.Theallottedfundsstated
abovewereearmarkedtoprovideFirstNationswhoattendschoolon-reservewitha
reasonablyequitablefundingbaseforeducation.Thesefundswouldhavebrought
FirstNationseducationfundinguptoparwiththeprovincialrate,andshowsthe
CanadianpublicthatCanadanotonlyunderfundson-reserveeducation,butalso
previousstatementsregardingfundingissuedbythegovernmentwerefalse.First
Nationscontinuetobesubjecttoatwopercentcaponeducationincreases,ignorantto
thefactthattheyrepresentthefastestgrowingpopulationintheCountry.Itisabsolutely
inexcusableforthegovernmentofCanadatorejectinvestmenttowardseducation,and
nowappearstobeanotherformofextortionplaceduponFirstNations.
Thecallforincreasedreformandaccountabilityiswhollyunwarranted,anda
misdirectionbythegovernmenttopushfurtherMinisterialoversightwithlittlerewardto
FirstNations.Withinthecurrentfundingprocessandeducationsystems,FirstNations
haveshownaccountabilityandefficiency.Furtherunilateraloversightandthecreation
ofacouncilofMinisterialappointeesisnottheanswerandremainsunacceptableto
leadership.ThedisappointmentexpressedbythegovernmentandMinistermirrorsthe
disappointmentexperiencedbyFirstNationssincethebeginningoftheso-called
consultativeprocess.TheChiefsofTreatySixarecompelledtostatethattheMinister,
AFNandPrimeMinisterhaveallowedtheirpersonaldesirestocloudtheprocess,anda
restartisrequired.TheChiefsstatetherecanneverbeacompromiseontheInherent
andTreatyRightsgrantedbytheCreatorandenshrinedthroughoursacred
agreements.TheCrowninRightofCanadamustexemplifytheHonouroftheCrown
andengageFirstNationsinarespectablemannerthatwillresultintruegovernanceof
education,andnotsimplyadministrationofagovernmentprogramrelatedtoeducation
on-reserve.
PleasecontacttheConfederacyofficeat7809440334ifyouhaveanyquestions.

GrandChiefCraigMakinaw
ConfederacyofTreatySixFirstNations