First Nation Education: the Federal Government is Heading in the Wrong Direction

WENDAKE, QC, March 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - "In response to the critical situation of our youths' education, all the government has to offer is a draft legislation that solves nothing and through which it hopes to shirk its responsibilities. It is totally unacceptable and irresponsible", denounces the Chief of the AFNQL, Ghislain Picard.

It is thus the response of the AFNQL to the proposed federal legislation on the education of the First Nations.

"Education is a key priority for us. For years now, our Chiefs, our teachers and specialists, the parents and the youths themselves have all been calling for the federal government to finally rise to the task with us and to assume its responsibilities. We know the real solutions and they have long been known to the federal government also. And for an answer, the federal government comes up with a pointless draft legislation behind which it tries to hide and sidestep its responsibilities.

I remind the federal government that its responsibility towards First Nation education is at the same time historical, constitutional and moral. The current system, which presents serious shortcomings, is in fact to a great extent its creation. We are calling on the government to engage with us in the updating of our education system and to forget about its useless draft legislation which has wasted quite enough of our time already. Our young people deserve much more than that", added Chief Picard.

The AFNQL will make its position known again to the federal government representatives at a meeting to be held on March 27, in Wendake.

About the AFNQL
The AFNQL is the regional organization regrouping the 43 Chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. For information: www.apnql-afnql.com.

SOURCE: ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS OF QUEBEC AND LABRADOR

Mélanie Vincent
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