February 22, 2005
Concordia University, Montreal
Recent Research
and Background
Reading
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Providing Critical Supports for Successful Learning
F. Governance and Leadership
Recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996)
Chapter 5: The Commission recommends that
3.5.1
Federal, provincial and territorial governments act promptly to acknowledge that education is a core area for the exercise of Aboriginal self-government.
3.5.2
Federal, provincial and territorial governments collaborate with Aboriginal governments, organizations or education authorities, as appropriate, to support the development of Aboriginally controlled education systems by
(a) introducing, adapting or ensuring the flexible application of
legislation to facilitate self-starting initiatives by Aboriginal nations
and their communities in the field of education;
(b) mandating voluntary organizations that are endorsed by substantial
numbers of Aboriginal people to act in the field of education in
urban and non-reserve areas where numbers warrant until such
time as Aboriginal governments are established; and
(c) providing funding commensurate with the responsibilities assumed
by Aboriginal nations and their communities, or voluntary organizations, given the requirements of institutional and program development, costs of serving small or dispersed communities, and special needs accruing from past failures of education services.
3.5.4
Aboriginal, provincial and territorial governments act promptly to reach agreements for mutual recognition of programs provided by their respective educational institutions so as to facilitate the transfer of students between educational systems while protecting the integrity of cultural dimensions of Aboriginal education
3.5.7
Where Aboriginal children attend provincial and territorial schools, provincial and territorial governments take immediate steps to ensure that Aboriginal people are involved fully in the decision-making processes that affect the education of their children. Aboriginal control of education and parental involvement should be implemented through a variety of actions:
legislation to guarantee Aboriginal representation on school boards
where population numbers warrant;
recognition of Aboriginally controlled schools under the jurisdiction
of Aboriginal community of interest governments;
(c) establishment of Aboriginally governed schools affiliated with school districts, if requested by Aboriginal people; and
(d) creation of Aboriginal advisory committees to school boards.
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