Dozens of people came out in December (2013) in the city of Thunder Bay to take part in a rally against the Canadian government's proposed First Nations Education Act.
Photo Credit: Josh Lynn/CBC

The numbers behind Canada’s funding of Indigenous First Nation education

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After Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced $1.9 billion in funding for Indigenous First Nation education February 7, lawyer Judith Rae thought she would check out the impact of the funding.

She specializes in First Nation legal issues at the law office of Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend (OKT) and wanted to understand how much of an improvement this funding was.

Analyzing the funding she found none of it would be available immediately, some of it would be available only in seven years, and that overall it fell short of equalizing education standards between mainstream Canadians and First Nation students.

The funding announcement came as the federal government wants to change its relationship with First Nations through the First Nations Education Act. Indigenous education in Canada is the responsibility of the federal government.

RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda talked to Judith Rae about the funding and what it means for First Nation education in Canada.

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Lawyer Judith Rae is a specialist in First Nation legal issues.

Lawyer Judith Rae is a specialist in First Nation legal issues.

More information:
Judith Rae – Behind the numbers: Harper’s new funding of the First Nations Education Act – here
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s funding announcement – here
Shannen’s Dream website – www.shannensdream.ca

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Categories: Economy, Indigenous, Politics, Society
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