Page 64 - Alderville First Nation

The Crown questioned this treaty commitment, placing sharp
restrictions on our right to receive enough educational funding.
WORDS TO KNOW At one time, when a First Nations student wanted to attend
enfranchised: to become university, he or she had to be enfranchised. Now, there are
enfranchised meant that the
waiting lists for our young people who wish to go to college
individual had to give up their
status and their treaty rights in or university. Often students are turned away because the
order to do many things such as First Nation does not have the funding to send them. This goes
serving in the army and buying
directly against the signed treaties.
land outside of the reserve. This
was the practice from the early
As of 2018, Alderville First Nation was still considering ratifying
to mid-1900s. The government
considered enfranchised a new education agreement with Canada that many other First
people to have become non-
Nations have already agreed to.
Indigenous. For instance, until
1960, Status Indians could not
“The Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement (ANEA) is a self-
vote in municipal, provincial,
or federal elections without government agreement between Canada and 23 Anishinabek
enfranchising. In 1960, all Status First Nations that recognizes First Nation control over Junior
Indians were given the right to
Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education on and off-reserve. The
vote. The policy and practice of
enfranchisement was formally ANEA with Canada will provide reliable funding to operate
stopped in 1985.
the stand-alone Anishinabek Education System (AES) … where
Participating First Nations (PFNs) have full control over how to
best allocate [spend] education funding.… The ANEA supports
the Anishinabek Nation’s vision of a quality AES that promotes
Anishinaabe culture and language and improves education
outcomes for Anishinabek students… The decision-making
power over education will rest in the hands of the First Nations
under the AES [Anishinabek Education System].”
— Say Yes to AES, 2016

It is hoped that under this new agreement, we will be much
better able to provide high quality education for all of our
students, whether they be in our elementary school, local high
schools, or pursuing a post-secondary education.

62 Alderville First Nation

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