Post Secondary Education Assistance

Resolution No. 2010-09-16

Post-Secondary Education Assistance and Support for Mushkegowuk/NAN Post-Secondary Institutions

WHEREAS we the First Nations of Mushkegowuk Council and Nishnawbe Aski Nation reaffirm and declare that we are the original peoples of our traditional lands;

AND WHEREAS we have the right and the responsibility to govern ourselves in a manner that is consistent with the responsibilities given to us by our ancestors and the Creator;

AND WHEREAS we affirm that we have never given up our inalienable inherent right to be responsible for the learning of our people;

AND WHEREAS the First Nations of Mushkegowuk Council and Nishnawbe Aski Nation are signatories to Treaty #9 or Treaty #5, which treaties committed the Crown and entitle our members to education programs and services which will enable them to achieve their personal and collective visions through lifelong learning;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT

we affirm our right to exercise full jurisdiction and control over First

Nations learning at all levels including post-secondary education and post­secondary student support programs;

AND FURTHER THAT we reject any imposition of provincial authority over First Nation education;

AND FURTHER THAT we reject any transfer of control or administration over post-secondary education or post­secondary student support program from First Nation governments or existing First Nation local education authorities to any other non-Aboriginal government department, agency or corporation;

AND FURTHER THAT we demand that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada support and cooperate in a comprehensive review of the post­secondary student support program within Nishnawbe Aski Nation with the goal of strengthening, rather than weakening, the support system for NAN post-secondary students and increasing both access to, and graduation from, post-secondary programs, all under the control of Nishnawbe Aski Nation or its member such as Mushkegowuk First Nations;

AND FURTHER THAT we demand that Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Mushkegowuk Council indigenous post­secondary institutions such as Oshki­Pimache-0-Win Education & Training Institute and Omushkego Institute, be funded on a basis equivalent to mainstream colleges in Ontario.

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