Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs(centre) speaks with Chief Okimaw Wallace Fox (Onion Lake Cree Nation) (left) and Chief Craig Makinaw (Ermineskin Cree Nation) as they leave a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, April 28, 2014.
Photo Credit: Adrian Wyld/CP

Blockades, economic action threatened if Indigenous education bill not scrapped

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A number of Indigenous First Nations leaders say they will target the Canadian economy if the Harper government doesn’t scrap proposed legislation for Indigenous education.

Chief Gordon Peters of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians is raising the possibility of a blockade on the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit if the bill is allowed to pass.

While “We are a loving people. We are a caring people. We are a hospitable people. And we want what’s best for our children. That’s the bottom line,” said Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs at a press conference in Ottawa Monday (April 28).

The chiefs were reacting to the the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act (Bill C-33) proposed by the Canadian government to give more control to First Nations over their children’s education.

Numerous First Nation leaders questions whether that is really the goal or will be the result of the legislation.

RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report:

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More information:
CBC News – First Nations leaders say they shouldn’t have to make threats to have their voices heard – here
RCI – Grand Chief Delisle: ‘We’ve been tread upon and ignored.’ – here
Text and status of Bill C-33 in Canada’s Parliament – here

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