Apartheid and First Nations' Schooling

Children asking for a school

I remember hearing about South African Ambassador Glenn Babb, who was posted to Canada in 1985. When Babb compared the plight of First Nations people living on reserves to Blacks under apartheid, it was controversial and apparently former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was not amused. Since then, even Archbishop Desmond Tutu has looked at the similarities between the lives of Canada's First Nations people and Blacks in South Africa ('Apartheid envoy reviled in Canada', Globe and Mail, August 3, 2003).  According to some writers, notably Prof. John S. Saul of York University, this was no coincidence as much of the system of apartheid, particularly the Bantustan, was modeled on our First Nations reserves.  Now two decades after the fall of apartheid in South Africa, here we are in Canada with remnants of a dreaded apartheid-lite system still in place.

This is strong language but given the current circumstances and the history of residential schools, it is appropriate.  There are children in Canada who are treated in a discriminatory manner because of their race. These are the children who live on reserves under federal jurisdiction, where education is funded at a lower rate than for schooling under provincial jurisdictions. In fact, we don't actually know how much money reserves receive for education since, as I understand it, much is skimmed off the top for native research in universities and for administration. The federal government has not been forthcoming with the actual amount reserves receive on a per student basis.

In fact, at least 100 schools on reserves are considered unsafe, according National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education.  Almost two years after its report was tabled,  it appears from an internet search that only a school in Attawapiskat has been built and after some delay, this school is scheduled to be completed by June 2014.

Let's take a moment to examine the proposed First Nations Education Act, originally scheduled to be tabled in January.  Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt is now less clear as to when this legislation will come forward but if it does, it will be without consultation or buy-in from First Nations peoples.  After the disastrous history of residential schools in Canada, one would think that the federal government would want First Nations to be at the table to give some credibility to the proposal.  Instead the bill was written without prior consultation and Valcourt says he's now consulting -- on a piece of legislation that has already been written.  How could this after-the-fact consultation be seen by aboriginal leaders, particularly those with memories of residential schools, as anything other than a sign of bad faith?  

The proposed act allows the Minister to impose third-party advisors to administer reserve schools that do not meet certain standards.  The standards to be met are not spelled out in the proposed bill and it is likely that the cost for these advisors will come out of already meager reserve school funds.

Finally, there was no indication of increased reserve school funding in the Budget (see an earlier post) nor is there in this proposed legislation.  Without funding tied to actual need, including the socio-economic needs of children on reserves, there can be no improvement in student achievement.  On-reserve teachers are often paid far less and as a consequence, they tend to be new teachers without experience.  As well, there is no money for the other educational support staff that children, particularly needier children, typically require to succeed in school.  These include special education teachers, psychologists and social workers.  

We have student drives in many of our Ottawa schools to send books to reserves as there aren't any books. There is no money for libraries.  No money for sports facilities. And as I mentioned earlier, no money to provide even safe facilities.

These are fourth-world conditions in Ontario, for heaven's sake.  Northern Ontario reserves where the standard of living is so low that tuberculosis (TB) is still rampant. Health Canada states that:

For example, while the 2006 Census reports that Aboriginal peoples account for just under 4% of the Canadian population, 21% of all TB cases occurred in this population in 2008.

Most people including most First Nations leadership believe that education is the remedy to breaking the chain of poverty, illness and despair for aboriginal people.  Nelson Mandela also believed that education is the key for his people.  Are we fair-minded Canadians, who were willing to champion fairness for Black people halfway across the world, going to simply watch as our government continues to discriminate against First Nations people here at home?

I can no longer stand by and allow my government to enact a piece of legislation that I know is just plain wrong. I hope you will also look within your conscience and find a way to tell the government your opinion on this proposed bill.  See Shannen's Dream, a student supported initiative, for more information.  Or you can join with others seeking justice and fair funding for First Nations' education at a rally tomorrow, December 10 -- 11 am at Victoria Island or noon on Parliament Hill.  Enough is enough!



The views expressed in this post are personal opinions only.