Page 63 - Beausoleil First Nation

Education Rights
You have probably heard and read about residential schools and
First Nations people. When they were very young, our parents and
grandparents had to attend day schools run by church officials.
Indian Day Schools were similar to residential schools, except
that day school students went home at night, while residential
school students lived at the school. The day school here, like other
day schools in the region, discouraged the practice of traditional
beliefs or ways of knowing and permitted English only.

Much of our culture was lost in these schools. People today
recognize the value of reclaiming our language and belief
systems, and are working to bring back the language and culture
that are so much a part of who we are.

The right to education, without cost, is considered a treaty right.
Historically, this has been interpreted to mean that the federal
government, in exchange for items negotiated in the treaties,
In 2017, the Beausoleil First Nation
will cover all costs for education in all levels of school, including Youth Council organized a week-
public schools and post-secondary schools. long trip to Ottawa. There they
met with government leaders
Our education funding does not come from the property tax to discuss issues that affect our
community such as education,
dollars paid to fund provincial schools. Rather, it comes from
health, and the environment.
federal funds we receive through Indigenous Services Canada,
along with our own income.

The Crown questioned this treaty commitment, placing
sharp restrictions on our right to receive enough educational
funding. At one time, when a First Nations student wanted
to attend university, he or she had to be enfranchised. To
become enfranchised meant that the individual had to give
up their status and their treaty rights in order to do many
things such as serving in the army or buying land outside of the
reserve. This was the practice from the early to mid-1900s. The
government considered enfranchised people to have become
non-Indigenous. For instance, until 1960, Status Indians could
not vote in municipal, provincial, or federal elections without
enfranchising. In 1960, all Status Indians were given the right to
vote. The policy and practice of enfranchisement was formally
stopped in 1985.

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