The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, representing 14 First Nations along the West Coast of Vancouver Island, is encouraged by the steps taken by the Government of Canada to address First Nations’ concerns surrounding the proposed First Nations Education Act. The dialogue between the Federal Government and the Assembly of First Nations seems to have resulted in some positive movement. Our communities will be eager to review the components of today’s announcement, especially in consideration of the Nuu-chah-nulth Unity Declaration on Education, signed by Nuu-chah-nulth leadership Sept. 24, 2013.
In that Declaration, the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations outline a vision for the education of our children that is rooted in a sacred trust from the Creator. Our children are sacred to the Nuu-chah-nulth. They have a human right to education, protected under Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution, in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Nuu-chah-nulth Unity Declaration on Education calls for our full authority and jurisdiction over our children’s education and schools, for an education that is grounded in our culture and language, and equitably funded and resourced. Our goal is a First Nation Education System that meets or exceeds the public school system in the province.
Our chiefs have a lot of work ahead of them at home in consideration of these complex issues, and from today’s announcement there remains a lot unknown. However, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is cautiously optimistic that the first steps have been taken toward the realization of a better future for our people.
“We would like to thank our National Chief A-in-chut and the AFN for the work they have done as directed by Resolution from the 2013 Special Chiefs Assembly in December (http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/sca-resolutions-2013.pdf) and for their contribution to the betterment of our children's lives and education,” said Ken Watts, Vice President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. “Some major steps have been taken in terms of advancing education for our children. We, as Nuu-chah-nulth, will review the information as a collective and develop a response in unity.”
For more information, please call Ken Watts, Vice President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, at 250-731-7218.
