] Chiefs vote to reject proposed changes to First Nations education By Steve Rennie THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA- Chiefs from across Canada have rejected controversial changes to First Nations education, and are calling on the Conservative government to provide $1.9 billion in funding now with more money to come later. It took most of the day for a special assembly of chiefs gathered in a downtown Ottawa hotel Tuesday to agree on how they would respond to the Harper governments education bill. They eventually voted in favour of a resolution that rejects Bill C-33, dubbed the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, and calls on the government to negotiate a new education agreement that provides transfer payments to aboriginal communities. The resolution also asks Ottawa to provide $1.9 billion tied to the original bill immediately, with a 4.5 per cent escalator until a new deal on education is reached. How the Conservatives respond to these new demands remains to be seen, but they have said repeatedly that funding wont come until there is reform and accountability. Some Regional chiefs initially showed their support for the education bill by attending an event in February with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Shawn Atleo, the former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. But that support quickly evaporated. Atleo, a self-described lightning rod in the controversy over the legislation, shocked many by abruptly quitting his job this month, leaving the AFN in limbo. Heading into Tuesdays meeting of the chiefs, the aboriginal community was deeply divided over the education bill. Some saw it as a first step with a substantial dollar amount attached to it that could improve the lives of First Nations children. Others viewed it as the government exerting too much control over aboriginal education. The first sign that common ground on controversial changes to First Nations education would be hard to find came early when chiefs couldnt agree on an agenda for the day. The chiefs eventually opted to discuss First Nations education before deciding how to choose a new leader to replace Atleo. The brief impasse spoke to the significant obstacle facing both the AFN and the Conservatives: getting hundreds of aboriginal communities in Canada to agree on an issue as deeply personal as how their children are educated. Quebec and Labrador Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, who has been the assemblys spokesman since Atleo resigned, urged the **>aboriginal
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 22:05:12 +0000