Page 63 - Mississaugas of Scugog Island 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 schools run by church officials.

Some were taken to residential schools, but many more in this
region attended Indian day schools. 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. In both types of schools, students were taught
that they should not speak our language or practise our
traditional beliefs.

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 a treaty right. Historically,
this has been interpreted to mean that the federal government,
in exchange for items negotiated in the treaties, will cover
all costs for education in all levels of school, including public
schools and post-secondary schools.
Our education funding does not come from the property tax To become enfranchised meant
dollars paid to fund provincial schools. Rather, it comes from that the individual had to give
federal funds we receive through Indigenous Services Canada, up their status and their treaty
rights in order to do many
along with our own income.
things such as serving in the
army or buying land outside
The Crown questioned this treaty commitment, placing sharp
of the reserve. This was the
restrictions on our right to receive enough educational funding. practice from the early to
At one time, when a First Nations student wanted to attend mid-1900s. The government
considered enfranchised
university, he or she had to be enfranchised.
people to have become non-
Indigenous. For instance, until
Due to the small population of Mississaugas of Scugog Island
1960, Status Indians could not
First Nation, our young people who want to go to college or
vote in municipal, provincial,
university do not have to be placed on a waiting list to receive or federal elections without
funding. This could change, though, as our population grows. enfranchising. In 1960, all Status
Indians were given the right to
vote. The policy and practice of
enfranchisement was formally
stopped in 1985.

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation 61

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