8/12/2019 Confederacy of Tr6 Press Release - Minister Valcourt's Response to Bill C-33 Rejection- May 28, 2014 (1)

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CONFEDERACYOFTREATYSIXFIRSTNATIONSMay 28 2014For Immediate ReleaseRE: Ministers response to rejection of Bill C-33

TheChiefsofTreatySixwouldliketoofferanimmediateresponsetoMinister

ValcourtsstatementregardingtherejectionofBillC-33bytheAssemblyofFirst

Nations.OnMay27,2014theChiefsinAssemblyinOttawadidvotetorejectBillC-33,

afailedattemptatunilaterallylegislatingFirstNationson-reserveeducation.TheTreaty

SixChiefsinattendancefullysupportedtheresolution,andthepositionputforthof

restartinganhonourableprocessofconsultationaroundFirstNationsEducation.From

theonset,theChiefsofTreatySixhadtakenexceptiontotheiterativeprocessutilized

byIndianandNorthernAffairsCanada(INAC),integrationoftheNationalPanelreport

oneducationandtheoversteppingofthenationalorganizationinnegotiatingthe

agreement.

Subsequently,theremovalofthebudgetedamountof$1.9Billionfurther

disappointstheChiefsandcallsforsomepointsofclarification.Theallottedfundsstated

abovewereearmarkedtoprovideFirstNationswhoattendschoolon-reservewitha

reasonablyequitablefundingbaseforeducation.Thesefundswouldhavebrought

FirstNationseducationfundinguptoparwiththeprovincialrate,andshowsthe

CanadianpublicthatCanadanotonlyunderfundson-reserveeducation,butalso

previousstatementsregardingfundingissuedbythegovernmentwerefalse.First

Nationscontinuetobesubjecttoatwopercentcaponeducationincreases,ignoranttothefactthattheyrepresentthefastestgrowingpopulationintheCountry.Itisabsolutely

inexcusableforthegovernmentofCanadatorejectinvestmenttowardseducation,and

nowappearstobeanotherformofextortionplaceduponFirstNations.

8/12/2019 Confederacy of Tr6 Press Release - Minister Valcourt's Response to Bill C-33 Rejection- May 28, 2014 (1)

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Thecallforincreasedreformandaccountabilityiswhollyunwarranted,anda

misdirectionbythegovernmenttopushfurtherMinisterialoversightwithlittlerewardto

FirstNations.Withinthecurrentfundingprocessandeducationsystems,FirstNations

haveshownaccountabilityandefficiency.Furtherunilateraloversightandthecreation

ofacouncilofMinisterialappointeesisnottheanswerandremainsunacceptableto

leadership.ThedisappointmentexpressedbythegovernmentandMinistermirrorsthe

disappointmentexperiencedbyFirstNationssincethebeginningoftheso-called

consultativeprocess.TheChiefsofTreatySixarecompelledtostatethattheMinister,

AFNandPrimeMinisterhaveallowedtheirpersonaldesirestocloudtheprocess,anda

restartisrequired.TheChiefsstatetherecanneverbeacompromiseontheInherent

andTreatyRightsgrantedbytheCreatorandenshrinedthroughoursacred

agreements.TheCrowninRightofCanadamustexemplifytheHonouroftheCrown

andengageFirstNationsinarespectablemannerthatwillresultintruegovernanceof

education,andnotsimplyadministrationofagovernmentprogramrelatedtoeducation

on-reserve.

PleasecontacttheConfederacyofficeat7809440334ifyouhaveanyquestions.

GrandChiefCraigMakinaw

ConfederacyofTreatySixFirstNations