The Canadian government has decided to “put on hold” a bill to reform Indigenous First Nation education after the resignation of Shawn Atleo, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, according to a report by the Globe and Mail newspaper Monday (May 5).
“With the support of the Assembly of First Nations, our government introduced historic legislation, the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act in April,” a spokeswoman for Canada’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt told the Globe and Mail’s Gloria Galloway on Monday.
“However,” the spokeswoman said, “given the recent resignation of the national chief, following today’s second reading vote, any further consideration of this legislation will be put on hold until the AFN clarifies its position.”
Chief Atleo had resigned suddenly on Friday (May 2) saying he did not want to be a ‘lighting rod” on the issue of the education act. “This work is too important and I am not prepared to be an obstacle to it or a lightening rod distracting from the kids and their potential.”
He had avoided criticising the education act when it was tabled April 10. Since then, numerous First Nation leaders have criticized the bill, saying contrary to what the government says about giving First Nations control over the education of their children, the government still retains that control and ignores traditional treaty rights.
More information:
Globe and Mail/Gloria Galloway – Conservatives put First Nations education bill ‘on hold’ after Atleo quits – here
National Post – Shawn Atleo abruptly resigns as national chief of Assembly of First Nations – here
Assembly of First Nations press release – First Nations Must Drive Next Steps – here
Status and text of First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act – here
RCI – Grand Chief Delisle: ‘We’ve been tread upon and ignored.’ – here
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