Attawapiskat

On March 20, a gathering was held in Fort Albany in support of the proposed new school in Attawapiskat. Steve Hookimaw, Chair of the Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority spoke to the gathering, and his comments are reported in a blog post below. Charlie Angus local MP, plus many First Nation Leaders, took part in the candlelight ceremony and the lighting of a sacred fire.

Shannon Koostachin, a 13 year old student in Attawapiskat said that she wants her younger brothers and sisters to have a better school than the portables she received her schooling in, “ I don’t want others to go to school in portables that leak, windows don’t open, washroom doors don’t close and ceilings are cracked. This is not an atmosphere for learning.” Greg Coleman, who has apparently replaced Tony Prudori as the INAC spokesman says, “. . . right now our concerns are for the health and safety of the students  . . . The last health and safety inspection showed it is safe.” But he was not sure when that inspection occurred.

Maybe Mr. Coleman is not aware, but in other parts of Ontario it is taken for granted that schools are safe and healthy. Their concern is for the quality of education that is taking place in the facilities that are provided. External educational experts from Ontario have indicated that the present facilities in Attawapiskat are NOT suitable for quality education. It should not be necessary to remind Mr. Coleman, or the Minister, that not every building that is judged to be satisfactory from a health and safety criteria, is suitable as a school.

Mr. Coleman states that in 2006 the government invested $194 million in First Nation schools across the country. He went on to say “we put the money where it is most needed.” (Timmins Daily Press. March 21,2008) But while the Government is prepared to invest $350 million in post secondary educational support, they will not build a school for the 400+ students in Attawapiskat who are receiving what education they can in facilities that represent only about 50% of the space required by the government’s own School Space Accommodation Standards – let alone those of Ontario.

Another comparison is Ontario’s budgeted $18.8 BILLION for primary and secondary education. This figure is up 20.3% since 2003/04. This represents the criteria that the Education Authority in Attawapiskat is trying to meet with a vastly reduced budget and substandard facilities!

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Hall was overwhelmed by the support shown at the gathering. “I am truly thankful for all the schools and students across Canada that have shown their support to our cause. We will not give up. Our Children deserve it.”

There seems to be a lot of spin-doctoring coming out of Ottawa regarding the new school in Attawapiskat. Many of the statements issued are not complete, both sides are not presented, or a peculiar interpretation is put on the statement.
Some of the more noteworthy of these statements include:

1. Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said that an unexpected fire in another native community meant having to replace the school at a cost of $13 million” (Toronto Star)

• * Are not all fires “unexpected” or is there another explanation?
• * Is this not the same government that provided $350 million to post-secondary school education?

2. Tony Prudori says, “We have been working with the First Nations to explore alternative funding options. So far, none of the options have proven viable.” (Toronto Star)

• * Who has he been talking to? Not Attawapiskat!
• * Has he heard of tuition agreements? Do not most agreements that Indian Affairs have with School Boards in Ontario have an accommodation charge built in? Why will this not work with on-reserve Education Authorities?
• * Attawapiskat is capable of building the school itself with a tuition agreement in place.

3. Chuck Strahl says that while the situation is not ideal in Attawapiskat, the school is not unsafe or unhealthy. (Toronto Star)

• * Twice this winter pipes have frozen, leaving students nowhere to go but home. (Toronto Star) They don’t get an education, but they are safe and healthy!
• * Educational experts condemn facilities as being totally inadequate for education. (2002 CASP Report)
• * The School Principal says “So poor is the setting for learning, its no wonder some children drop out by grade 8.”

Some other facts:

• * “There’s not another school in the country that is made up entirely of portables with no main building” (C. Angus-Toronto Star)
• * Ontario public school boards association has cited aboriginal learning as a top priority and launched a number of initiatives to try to close the learning gap between native and non-native children.
• * The Auditor General has indicated that it will take Native education 28 years to catch up to non-native education.
• * Attawapiskat is sitting beside one of the richest diamond mines in the Western world. But without an education, the youth of Attawapiskat will not have a chance to participate in this economic opportunity!

And the last words go to an editorial in The Toronto Star on March 11, 2008

“A government that has the money for tax breaks but not for rebuilding and repairing decaying aboriginal schools is a government with a wrong sense of priorities”

The following is the text of an address by Steve Hookimaw, Chair of the Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority, at the Gathering in Fort Albany in support of the new school for Attawapiskat.

“First of all, I want to give thanks to Danny Metatawabin, and the Peetabeck Education Authority for organizing and hosting this gathering. It is important not only for Attawapiskat, but also for all First Nations who are struggling in trying to provide first class education for our youth, so that they can move confidently into the 21^st century, proud of their cultural background, and able to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered to them in this country.

You know the federal government says that their objective is to ensure that all First Nation students “have access to the education programs and services available in public schools in the province in which the reserve is located”. And yet we all know that they do not provide the money or the facilities that would enable us to do this. Our teachers are highly skilled, and compare favourably with teachers elsewhere in this Province, and yet because of lack of resources and facilities, they cannot provide the same level of education.

 We are now moving into a new era of economic expansion and opportunity. Yet if our students are not qualified, they will not be able to take advantage of these opportunities and will, once again, fall behind. This is unacceptable! We must convince the government that our children are just as worthy as other children in this province. They must provide us with the resources to enable us to offer the same level of educational quality as that in non-native centres. This is the message they preach to the Canadian people, yet they do not deliver. We must inform the Canadian people of the truth of the situation in our Northern Reserves. And enlist their support.

 In other parts of Ontario, School Boards enter into Tuition agreements to provide education to on reserve students in provincial schools. These agreements include a charge for the costs of accommodation. Yet when we propose a similar arrangement for our education Authorities, we are told it is not possible, and they will not even discuss it further. Nor will they discuss rental agreements, or any other arrangements that will allow us to build our own schools. They signed a treaty indicating that they would build schools on reserves. Now they are saying that they do not have the money to do it, and they will not allow us to do it either. But still they say that that they are offering the same type of education as is available elsewhere in the Province!

 In 2002 and again in 2007 we had a team of external educational experts with vast experience in the Ontario public school system, come in and assess our situation. In both cases, these highly qualified teams indicated that our portables were totally unacceptable for educational use. But the Minister says there are no health or safety hazards! Well if all the children stayed home, there would be no health and safety hazards, but they would not get an education. Newspaper after newspaper, and group after group, has said that this would not be tolerated in a non-native community. Yet this type of situation exists in many First Nation Reserves in Northern Ontario. The Minister admits that 29 additional schools are needed.

 It is not a lack of money! Last year the Federal government had a $10.2 billion surplus. As an editorial in the Toronto Star indicated, “A government that has the money for tax breaks but not for rebuilding and repairing decaying aboriginal school is a government with a wrong sense of priorities.”

 School Boards in Ontario have cited aboriginal learning as a top priority and have launched a number of initiatives to try to close the learning gap between Native and Non-Native children. The Federal Government’s Auditor general says it will take 28 years for us to catch up. But still the Federal Government will not act! They are using our children to build up their surpluses, for whatever reason! This is a situation that must not be allowed to continue.

 Make no bones about it! We are trying to force the government to build a decent and adequate school in Attawapiskat. But for our First Nations there are many that will have to follow us. We must insist that the Federal government follow their avowed policy of equality among all children in the Province of Ontario. It may be a long struggle, but the cause is worth the battle.

 And it will be a battle! One of the Prime Minster’s key advisors is Tom Flanagan, an American born professor at the University of Calgary. Flanagan disputes our claim to the land, and preaches assimilation. The previous Minister, Jim Prentice indicated that he had not talked with him – and Mr. Prentice was the last Minister that supported our new school! Mr. Flanagan’s views are inflammatory, and hearken back to the views that allowed the development, and continuation, of the residential schools. They must not be allowed to succeed.

 Everyone in Attawapiskat appreciates your concerns and your support for our children. I would particularly like to thank Charlie Angus for his tremendous support, NAN, the Mushkegowuk, and all of you. Together we will prevail!

 Thank you all for your support and your presence here today!”

There now is a vehicle to express your support for a new elementary school in Attawapiskat.

A petition is being circulated that you can access and sign online.

Please sign the petition which you can find at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/FNCA08/

Rachel Bokhout wrote the following letter of support on March 5, 2008, in response to an article in the Toronto Star.

“Dear Prime Minister, Premier, Minister of Education, Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr. Silva and Mr. Angus,
 
I’m writing in response to the article in today’s Toronto Star titled “YouTube used in fight for new school” (found online here: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/309499 ) regarding Attawapiskat’s more than 30-year wait for a new elementary school to be constructed.
 
I’m shocked and appalled, as I hope you are also. I attended elementary and highschool in three different communities — North York, Ontario; St. Anthony, NFLD; and Huron County, Ontario — and I can’t conceive of such a situation being tolerated in any of those places. It would have been widely considered unacceptable and all levels of government would have worked together to find a solution. Why doesn’t Attawapiskat rate that kind of consideration? How can anyone offer an excuse for this situation?
 
To put this in terms of those affected — more than 30 graduating classes in Attawapiskat have now worked out of substandard facilities. That’s three separate generations of students who’ve learned that they don’t deserve a real roof over their heads and a school to call their own.
 
I am extraordinarily angry at the apathy that has allowed such a situation to continue, and am ashamed that it could happen in this country. I hope fervently that you are planning to do something now to create change. Attawapiskat needs a school. Don’t pass the buck. Liase and find a way to make it happen.
 
Sincerely,
Rachel Bokhout”

Thank you Rachel!

The Lambton Kent District School Board, along with some Northern Ontario Boards, is attempting to address the apparent gap in the achievement of Aboriginal students and other students. This thrust would determine whether programs currently delivered offer similar opportunities for success for all students. This program would focus on supporting aboriginal student achievement and work to remove barriers to Aboriginal student success. One of their key points is that:

“The learning aspirations and potentials of Aboriginal students can be better realized through a responsive, transparent and accountable policy”

This is similar to the attitude taken by the Attawapiskat First Nation Education Authority in their monitoring of their own educational programs. When they assumed control of education in Attawapiskat, they took very seriously their responsibility for monitoring and assessing their education programs. Every 5 years they had a major assessment of all their school programs. For this assessment, a team of external education experts were brought in to examine all aspects of their educational system and to prepare a comprehensive report, complete with recommendations.

In the 2002 report, the external team were very upset with the quality of the facilities afforded the elementary school students. Their assessment stated:

“The temporary accommodations are acceptable as buildings, but totally unacceptable in terms of providing a broad inquiry-based, student-centered, integrated and seamless program. . . .
These teaching/learning compromises are a great disservice to the students and teachers, and totally unacceptable in today’s educational environment.”

Last year (2007) The Authority again wanted a compete assessment done. They understood that the facilities were not meeting the children’s learning needs and they wanted an external opinion. Imagine their surprise (consternation) when they were told that the Department has developed a new schedule for school evaluations and that under the new rules:

“Attawapiskat is now due for an evaluation in 2009/10”

Would anyone call this decision “a responsive, transparent and accountable policy”?

The Authority did find the money to bring an external team in to assess the secondary school. Their findings indicated that:

“The team is of the opinion that the current portable elementary school facility contributes greatly to the age/grade delay of the students. If something is not done quickly, all graduating grade 8 students will have spent their entire elementary school career in portables.  This is unconscionable and would not be tolerated by parents in a non-native community.”

Who is being responsive, transparent, and accountable?

If Provincial School Boards can attempt to develop programs and facilities that meet the needs of aboriginal students, why can’t the Federal Government?

This week Ontario is celebrating adult learners who are committed to furthering their education and improving their abilities, skills and knowledge.

“Our government is committed to investing in skills, learning and people to create a strong, competitive workforce in Ontario” John Milloy, Minister of training, Colleges and Universities.

Some Quick Facts – In 2007-08 the Provincial Government invested:

• Almost $75 million to support literacy and numeracy services in the Literacy and Basic Skills and Academic Upgrading Programs.
• Almost $63 million for adults in credit programs working towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma
• Invested and additional $18 million to improve the adult education system in Ontario

And in Attawapiskat:

• 3 successive Federal Ministers have said they support a new elementary school; but Ottawa reneges.
• Our secondary school requires extension and renovation, but no money is available
• The DeBeers Victor Diamond Mine is moving into production, but in order to get jobs, our youth will require at least an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
• The Auditor General says that it will take us 28 years to catch up to the Provincial System

Finance Minister Flaherty says, “Our government is taking the path that requires focus, prudence and discipline.”

But is the creation and maintenance of a two-tiered educational system of haves and have-nots in Ontario fair, or equitable, or prudent?

We know who, but we do not know why!

The federal budget, announced this week, does little to help people most in need. John Hagens, Chairperson of the Sarnia-Lambton Social Service Network, was quoted in the Observer as saying he was disappointed that little funding was earmarked for social welfare, especially for people with disabilities.

“It’s the government’s role to support people most in need. They’re the only ones who can do it, that can use tax dollars to do it.”

Armine Yalnizyan, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, was quoted as saying:

“What kind of responsible leadership is this when you’re rewarding people who have a lot, and doing nothing for people who are really struggling to stay afloat in the best of economic times?”

Some social spending initiatives in the budget included:

• - $135 million for First Nations for water, health and education improvements
• - $110 million for new mental health projects
• - $90 million to extend an unemployment program
• - $60 million towards an income supplement program for low-income seniors

And $350 million for post secondary school students, but $0 for an elementary school for students in Attawapiskat – even though 3 previous Ministers of Indian Affairs said that they supported the need, and the construction.

Finance Minister Flaherty in defending his program is quoted as saying:

“Some would have us go down the path to higher spending, higher interest payments and higher taxes. That approach is misguided. Our government is taking the path that requires focus, prudence and discipline.”

But is it prudent, or disciplined, to deny these elementary school students the chance to realize their potential in our Canadian society? Or even the chance for an education that other students in Ontario take for granted?

Why? Mr. Flaherty, Why?

But no money for Elementary School Students

The Finance Minister has announced that Ottawa will invest $350 million for a new Canada Student Grant Program – for post secondary school students.

But what about the elementary school students in Attawapiskat and other Northern Ontario First Nation communities. They just want adequate elementary school facilities like other communities in Ontario.

But the Government says “No!”, in spite of their trumpeted goals that say “Yes!”.

So what chance do our students have to qualify for these new grants when they do not have an adequate elementary school that meets even the federal government standards – let alone the Ontario standards?

How much longer can this situation be allowed to exist?

The following is the text of a press release from Grand Chief Stan Louttit and Deputy Grand Chief Leo Friday. The Mushkegowuk Council is the Tribal Council for this region of Northeastern Ontario.

“MUSHKEGOWUK LEADERSHIP SUPPORTS THE ATTAWAPISKAT FIRST NATION

(Moose Factory, ON February 27, 2008) - It was the summer of 2000 and then Minister of Indian Affairs Robert Nault was in the community of Attawapiskat.  Speaking in front of a packed arena, the Minister announced that he as Minister would support the need for a new elementary school for the community.  Shouts of joy and jubilation immediately erupted from the community members there.  Little did the people know then that the Minister’s commitment would be taken off the table.  Little did the people gathered know that in the coming years, two more Ministers of Indian Affairs would make the same commitment for a new school, only to renege on their commitments later on.

Such has been the journey for the children of Attawapiskat.

Instead of living up to the commitment for a new school, the government has seen fit to provide temporary portables for the children’s education.  Temporary may mean a long, long time.  Such is the track record of Indian Affairs. 

Grand Chief Stan Louttit is involved with the community in an on-going strategy for a new elementary school in Attawapiskat.  “This is unacceptable,” stated the Grand Chief. “Portables are not schools.  It is a sad fact that for many of the children in Attawapiskat, they will not have had an opportunity to learn and grow in a proper educational facility.” 

The community strategy includes a letter writing campaign, communicating with other Ontario schools in such efforts as ‘students helping students’, keeping the media informed.  First Nation leaders from other communities have joined in the effort including regional and national leadership.  The community is determined to have their voice heard and will continue with the lobbying strategy as long as is necessary.  

The Attawapiskat First Nation has developed a web site on this important matter.  The site can be viewed at www.attawapiskat.com

Grand Chief Stan Louttit and Deputy Grand Chief Leo Friday encourage the general public to voice their concerns to the Minister of Indian Affairs regarding the shameful acts of negligence by Indian Affairs who have neglected prior commitments and who have turned their backs on the children of Attawapiskat.

The Mushkegowuk Council is a regional organization that works with member First Nations on collective and individual issues.”

Our thanks to the Mushkegowuk Leadership for this support