ITAH KISKINOHĀMAKEWIN KĀISPAYIK

1. ITAH KISKINOHĀMAKEWIN KĀISPAYIK KEE TAS KEE NOW TRIBAL COUNCIL Education authorityOctober 9, 2019

2. Indian Control of Indian Education • In 1969, Pierre Trudeau’s government released the Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, also known as the infamous White Paper. • It was viewed as an attempt to assimilate Indigenous people. The White Paper became the catalyst for a significant resistance movement from grassroots Indigenous peoples in Canada. • In 1972, the National Indian Brotherhood (which later became the Assembly of First Nations) published a report called "Indian Control of Indian Education."  • “Indian parents must have full responsibility and control of education," the 1972 report states in part.

3. First Nations learning Systems • First Nations learning system promote the following: • lifelong learning that doesn’t end at graduation; • First Nations languages, cultures, histories, philosophies, worldviews and values; • A wide variety of opportunities that will nurture their learning; • Comprehensive First Nations-developed curricula and programs; • First-, Second-, and Third-level services under First Nation jurisdiction; and • Comprehensive data, management, and evaluation.

4. KTC First Nations Territory

5. Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) • The Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC) is comprised of the member Nations of Loon River First Nation – #476, Lubicon Lake Band – #453, Peerless Trout First Nation – #478, Whitefish Lake First Nation – #459 and Woodland Cree First Nation – #474. • Established in 1995 to facilitate joint action by the original three member Nations on matters of mutual concern, with two member Nations joining later on. • Services include Health, Child and Family, and Education. • Prior to KTCEA, KTC Education services included the following: • Tuition/Education Services Agreements, • Advice/assistance to band-operated schools, • Partnership with Northland School Division for shared second-level services, and • The GoA Framework Agreement.

6. The KTC Education Work Plan • The KTC Education Committee was established to develop and implement work plan for the creation of an education authority. • The following are the identified stages of the work plan: • Develop Governance Structure, • Develop Appropriate Administrative Structure, • Determine Ratification Process, • Incorporation Process, and • Community Engagement.

7. KTC Education Authority establishment • On January 10, 2017, at a KTC meeting, a resolution was passed to approve the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association presented by the KTC Education Committee. • Band Council Resolutions were passed, authorizing the Chiefs to approve and be shareholders on a non-profit, incorporated Education Authority - KTCEA.

8. Before Peerless Lake School Chief + Council Chief + Council Kateri School Chief + Council Cadotte Lake School Little Buffalo School Clarence Jaycox School Atikameg School Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Northland School Division

9. After Peerless Lake School Cadotte Lake School Little Buffalo School Clarence Jaycox School Kateri School Atikameg School KTCEA

10. KTCEA Board of directors Chair Person – Chief Ivan Sawan, Loon River First Nation Vice Chairperson – Councillor Darren Auger, Whitefish Lake First Nation Board member – Councillor Tyler Letendre, Loon River First Nation Board member – Councillor Shayne Letendre, Loon River First Nation Board member – Chief Gladys Okemow, Peerless Trout First Nation Board member – Councillor Corrine Alook, Peerless Trout First Nation Board member – Councillor Gilbert Okemow, Peerless Trout First Nation Board member – Chief Billy Joe Laboucan, Lubicon Lake Band Board member – Councillor Jason Laboucan, Lubicon Lake Band Board member – Councillor Timothy Sawan, Lubicon Lake Band Board member – Chief Albert Thunder, Whitefish Lake First Nation Board member – Councillor Richard Laboucan, Whitefish Lake First Nation Board member – Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom, Woodland Cree First Nation Board member – Councillor Edna Boucher, Woodland Cree First Nation Board member – Councillor Johnny Cardinal, Woodland Cree First Nation

11. KTC Education Authority • Whitefish Lake First Nation • Atikameg School • Woodland Cree First Nation • Cadotte Lake School • Loon River First Nation • Clarence Jaycox School • Lubicon Lake Band • Little Buffalo School • Peerless Trout First Nation • Peerless Lake School • Kateri School

12. KTCEA Second Level Services • Finance • Human Resources • Education Services Agreements • Transportation • Operations and Maintenance • IT Support • Partnerships and intergovernmental agreements • Board administration • Strategic Planning • Professional learning and mentorship • Land Based Learning • Cree Language • Literacy • Numeracy • Inclusive Education • Guidance/Counselling • Career and Technology Studies • School Nutrition Program • Virtual Programming • Early childhood education

13. Land Based Learning • Rabbit Skinning • Preparing Traditional Foods • Picking Medicinal Plants • Canoeing • Moose Calling • Traditional Legends • Trapping • Fish Preparation • Deer Skinning • Moose Hide Tanning

14. SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCED TO STUDENTS… WELDING ROBOTICS SMALL ENGINES FLIGHT SIMULATION RADIO STATION OPERATION COSMETOLOGY CODING

15. KTCEA Regional Education Agreement

16. REA Background • KTC Multi-year Block Funding Agreement set to expire on March 31, 2019. • KTCEA sent summer 2018 letter to Canada inviting REA negotiations. • Working Group meetings began on December 6, 2018. • Board updates provided regularly. • Agreement completed and formal signing ceremony July 18, 2019.

17. REA: What it is/what it is not • What it is: • A vehicle for a more flexible and equitable funding model to better support KTCEA K-12 students. • An agreement to continue discussions in other areas which may warrant additional federal funding. • An agreement describing the roles and responsibilities of KTCEA, KTC and Canada. • What it is not: • An agreement describing each single aspect of the new funding model. • An agreement describing initiatives that KTCEA may wish to undertake (e.g. school-based initiatives, new buildings, etc.). • Post-secondary agreement. • A self-government agreement.

18. KTCEA REA – what it means • Education was pulled out of the KTC Multi-year Agreement and funded separately. The funding is still provided from Canada to KTC, then to KTCEA through a sub-agreement. • A new federal funding formula was applied, based on provincial funding framework, with specific adaptations for KTCEA to consider northern, remote, and linguistic factors. • The new formula also provides stable funding for full day K4/K5, language and culture, and English as a second language. • “Opener” clauses are to continue discussions on potential further funding enhancements and third-level services. • Additionally, there was an increase in the overall guaranteed funding for education.

19. Current Challenges Transportation Infrastructure/Operations & Maintenance Recruitment/Retention of staff

20. KTCEA Strategic Plan 2019-2024 Vision: Excellence in Indigenous Education KTCEA Strategic Priorities: Student success Governance Staff attraction/retention Assets Partnerships

21. “To encourage our children to have dreams and to expose them to the possibilities through education”