Board/First Nations renew education service agreements

The Rainbow District School Board and 11 First Nations gathered in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek today to renew Education Service Agreements. A signing ceremony took place at the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Community Complex at 11 am.

The First Nations include:
• Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation
• Sheguiandah First Nation
• Whitefish River First Nation
• M’Chigeeng First Nation
• Sheshegwaning First Nation
• Zhiibaahaasing First Nation
• Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
• Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve
• Dokis First Nation
• Sagamok Anishnawbek
• Wahnapitae First Nation

In effect from September 2008 to August 2009, the agreements reaffirm Rainbow District School Board’s commitment to First Nation students. “These agreements celebrate the rich diversity in Rainbow Schools and officially recognize the importance of the heritage and history of First Nations in communities served by the Board,” said Chair Judy Hunda. “The agreements also focus on success for First Nation students with specific goals to improve academic achievement in literacy and numeracy.” 

The Rainbow District School Board’s First Nation Advisory Committee (FNAC), with representatives from each of the First Nations, met over the past year to review and revise the agreements. The First Nation Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding matters affecting the establishment, development and delivery of programs and services for First Nation pupils of the Board and reviews the financial statements and tuition agreements of the Board as they relate to First Nation tuition agreements.

“The agreements were developed with the vision and spirit of improving the educational performance of all learners and ensures that First Nations students have their Native history respected and understood by all,” said Rainbow District School Board Trustee Grace Fox. “Seven social factors provide the guiding principles – curricular and instructional practices, organizational practices, linguistic perspectives and practices, personnel equity, school culture, school/community involvement and relations and educational outcome equity.”

The parties to the education service agreements have entered into an understanding to increase school success of First Nations learners, honour and support the language, culture, and history of the First Nations people whose territories are served by the Board, increase knowledge and understanding of First Nations people, build awareness of the important issues that affect First Nations learners in our schools, and bring about positive change for all students.

“The agreements that the First Nation Advisory Committee has worked on for the last year continue to support the underlying purpose which is to understand the collective responsibility for the success of all Aboriginal learners,” said Stephanie Roy, Executive Director of Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute. “We want to ensure that all students receive a quality understanding of our heritage, our sense of belonging, and belief that all students will be successful within the Rainbow District School Board. We believe this agreement will not only increase school success but also bring about positive change for all students.”

“We value our partnership with First Nations communities,” said Rainbow District School Board Superintendent Sharon Speir. “We will work diligently to provide excellence in education to First Nation students in keeping with the agreements signed today, another milestone in the history of Rainbow Schools.”
 
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Media Contact:

Sharon Speir, Superintendent of Schools,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7264.