Page 63 - Georgina Island
P. 63
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. Now, there are
waiting lists for our young people who wish to go to college
or university. Often students are turned away because the
First Nation does not have the funding to send them. This goes
directly against the signed treaties.
In November 2016, the Chippewas of Georgina Island formally
approved a new education agreement with Canada as described
in the quote below:
“The Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement (ANEA) is a self-
government agreement between Canada and 23 Anishinabek
First Nations that recognizes First Nation control over Junior
Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education on and off-reserve. The
ANEA with Canada will provide reliable funding to operate
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
Georgina Island First Nation 61
ogemawahj_community_book1.indd 61 2019-02-27 10:33 AM