The federal government has announced $20 million in new funding to support education infrastructure and governance within the Anishinabek Education System (AES). The $20 million will be provided annually and will be spread out between 23 First Nation communities served by the Anishinabek Education System.
"All kids deserve a worldclass education, and Indigenous communities know best how to deliver that for their students,” said Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. “This federal funding will support and improve self-governing education.”
The announcement took place on Friday afternoon, at the office of the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body, located at 132 Osprey Miikan, in North Bay. The wind was wild, and the light rain was cold, but spirits were high during the outdoor announcement, as the new funding “is an amazing step forward in supporting communities to take control of their own education,” noted Lise Kwekkeboom, Director of Education, Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Secretary, Kinoomaadziwin Education Body.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Canada,” Kwekkeboom continued, specifically “on how we continue supporting our First Nations in language, culture and academic learning, improving and promoting student success and wellness whether they attend First Nation schools or within the provincial education systems."
There are around 2,000 students who will benefit from these funds, ensuring they “have the resources they need to succeed while remaining connected to Anishinabek culture and language,” the AES noted in a release.
"The Anishinabek Education System First Nations have been largely operating and supporting their education system though programs and services funding,” explained Nancy O’Donnell, Director of Education for Kinoomaadziwin Education Body.
“The increased allocation of governance funding,” O’Donnell continued, “creates more opportunities for the First Nations to hire key education positions and to utilize all programs and services funding for initiatives that directly benefit Anishinabek students."
Given Canada’s history of forcing Indigenous kids into residential schools, Minister Anandasangaree acknowledged that “education was often used as a tool to suppress and not as a tool to empower.”
“We are starting a very important journey toward self-determination of education by Anishinaabe people,” the minister said.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
