Education Jurisdiction

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Education Jurisdiction

• What it Means to Communities

Presentation created by FNESC for First Nations
communities and schools.
Fall 2006
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UPDATE July 5, 2006 Landmark Jurisdiction
Agreement Signed
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• On July 5th, 2006, representatives of First
  Nations and the federal and provincial
  governments signed a set of framework agreements
  recognizing the right of First Nations
  communities to make decisions about the education
  of their learners.
• The celebration of this achievement was held at
  Xweme'lch'stn School in North Vancouver.

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• The Jurisdiction Agreement sets out the
  responsibilities of Canada, BC and FNESC and the
  steps they will take so that First Nations will
  be able to exercise jurisdiction over K-12
  on-reserve education.
• Signers
• Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and
  Northern Development
• Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia
• Nathan Matthew, Chief Negotiator, FNESC
• The signed agreements are available at
  www.fnesc.bc.ca/jurisdiction. Click on Latest
  News (on the right hand side).

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Education Jurisdiction

• What is it?
• Legal power and authority to govern and control
  K-12 education on reserve
• Community authority is recognized by federal and
  provincial governments
• It includes lawmaking powers
• This is Phase 1. Later phases could include
  Early Childhood and Post-Secondary.
• A First Nations choice to participate in the
  jurisdiction process is completely optional

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Education JurisdictionOur Vision

• Culture
• Language
• History
• Our Values
• Our Methods

These aspects of our vision will be clearly and
positively held within our jurisdiction over
education.
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We will have jurisdiction over all aspects of
K-12 education on reserve, including

• Curriculum
• Teacher certification, standards and competencies
• School certification and school standards
• How our schools operate

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Education JurisdictionWe will express our
jurisdiction by control over

• Class size
• School calendar
• Testing and assessments
• Learning philosophy
• Teaching methods
• Education goals

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Education JurisdictionEmpowers

• Our local government
• Our parents
• Our children
• Our schools
• Our Elders, community experts

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Education JurisdictionBenefits our Children

• We will have the opportunity to
• Set appropriate and relevant curriculum and
  teacher standards
• Use more flexible teaching methods
• Create culturally relevant learning environments
• Teach language, culture, community values
• Academically prepare students for post-secondary
  education through higher standards

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Education JurisdictionFlexible and Respectful

• Community and needs based
• Learner oriented, not system oriented
• Respects culture and people

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Education JurisdictionAbove and Beyond

• High standards
• Build on provincial standards for core courses
• Create own approach to other courses, i.e.
  English 12 based on Aboriginal Literature
• Grant our own graduation certificates as well as
  have access to the Dogwood
• First Nations languages may now be recognized as
  a language credit

We can succeed without having to change who we
are.
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Education JurisdictionDevelopmental

• Fits within treaty, self-government, self
  determination negotiations
• First step in jurisdiction later phases will
  include early childhood education and
  post-secondary education
• Develops expertise within the community

Jurisdiction over K-12 on-reserve education will
build capacity for further areas.
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Education JurisdictionAppropriate Funding

• All students attending the First Nations school
  will be funded Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
  students living on or off-reserve
• One-time developmental funding establishing the
  CEA, legal and financial advice, community
  consultation, etc.
• Funding will be available for implementation
  costs such as governance, legal and insurance
  costs

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Education JurisdictionWhat Changes?

• Our right to make decisions in education will be
  formally recognized
• Will control curriculum, school and teacher
  standards
• We can graduate our own children
• We have our own system of K-12 education
• Sections 114-122 of the Indian Act will no longer
  apply

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Education JurisdictionHow Will it Work?

• Jurisdiction rests with Participating First
  Nation (PFN)
• FN passes law to set vision and guidelines for
  education system
• Law may also create a Community Education
  Authority (CEA)
• CEA operates the education system
• CEA can take many forms (single community, single
  school, multiple communities, multiple schools,
  etc.)
• FN/CEA delegates some responsibilities to a
  regional First Nations Education Authority (FNEA)

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Education JurisdictionHow Will it Work?

• First Nations Education Authority (FNEA)
• Is a legal entity but not another bureaucracy
• Is made up of representatives from each First
  Nation participating in jurisdiction
• Exercises areas of jurisdiction common to all
  communities
• Teacher Certification
• School Certification
• Curriculum and examination standards

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Education JurisdictionHow Will it Work?

• FNEA will receive administrative services from
  First Nations Education Steering Committee
  (FNESC) like the First Nations Schools
  Association (FNSA) does
• First Nations and schools will still receive
  support from FNESC and FNSA
• There will be training and other support for
  Participating First Nations

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First Nations / Schools
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Education JurisdictionNext Steps

• The FNEA will be up and running by 2008.
• Federal and provincial enabling legislation could
  be passed as early as January 2007. Canada and
  First Nations can initial Canada-FN Agreements
  once legislation is passed.
• After initialing, the First Nation has up to
  three years to develop capacity and systems, and
  to ratify and sign their Agreement
• When ready, First Nations ratify and sign the
  Agreements.

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For more information

• Read about Jurisdiction online at
  www.fnesc.ca/jurisdiction
• Contact the office of the First Nations Education
  Steering Committee (FNESC) toll-free at
  1-877-422-3672 or email jurisdiction_at_fnesc.ca