August 26, 2020
Money earmarked to improve air ventilation, boost sanitation and buy protective equipment
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-schools-safe-covid19-1.5700424
First Nations back-to-school COVID-19 funding falls far short, says AFN regional chief
August 26, 2020
Indigenous Services Minister says announced funding per-student on-reserve higher than for provinces. The $112 million for COVID-19 back-to-school preparations for First Nations that Ottawa announced on Wednesday falls far short of needs faced by communities, according to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) regional chief responsible for education.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-school-funding-covid19-1.5701135
Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief on ignored requests for school resources
August 25, 2020
The deputy grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario, says leaders and parents are worried about the return to school next month. Derek Fox says the Canadian government has all but ignored urgent requests to provide resources that would allow students to return to school in a safe environment. For more, we’re joined by Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox.
No guarantee First Nations schools will be ready: Feds
August 25, 2020
That’s no guarantee the schools will be ready for the scheduled start of classes in September, however – and details on the federal commitment remain scarce. Health Minister and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu said Tuesday she was unaware of the circumstances that led to Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s request for $33 million in safe restart funding allegedly going ignored for over a month by the government’s Indigenous Services department.
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/no-guarantee-first-nations-schools-will-be-ready-feds-2664361
Without new federal funding, some Ontario First Nations may close schools until 2021
August 25, 2020
Two First Nation high schools in northwestern Ontario will not reopen in September because of a lack of funding to mitigate the risk of transmitting COVID-19, according to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). Pelican Falls education centre near Sioux Lookout and Dennis Franklin Cromarty high school in Thunder Bay have pushed back their fall opening until the end of October, said NAN deputy grand chief Derek Fox. Without additional funding and with no other resources to institute pandemic protocols, some of the 49 First Nations in NAN may cancel the entire first semester at schools in their communities, Fox said.
This First Nation school resumed classes 4 weeks ago. It’s been ‘nerve racking’ but successful, staff say
August 24, 2020
There were two questions that nagged at Kyla Blair when the school where she works, and that her children attend, restarted class. Would her kids be safe? And would she be able to help keep other kids safe? Blair, a mother of two, is a teacher and education assistant at Stein Valley Nlakapamux School, a First Nations registered independent school near Lytton, B.C., which resumed classes nearly a month ago. The Ministry of Education said the school is the first in B.C. among public and independent schools to have started the 2020-21 school year.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/back-to-school-covid-19-bc-1.5697558
Stonefish wants to teach children traditional way of life
August 24, 2020
Revitalizing families is at the top of Denise Stonefish’s to-do list. As Chief of the Delaware First Nation at Moraviantown, Stonefish says it is her most important role. “It is about the children,” the soft-spoken leader of the Lenape community near Bothwell explains. The Delaware First Nation at Moraviantown encompasses 3,000 acres of farmland and forest, threaded by the Thames River. It includes 167 households, 27 businesses and 500 citizens — half of whom are under the age of 25. “We have a young community here which makes the revitalization of the family even more important,” she says.
https://chathamvoice.com/2020/08/24/stonefish-wants-to-teach-children-traditional-way-of-life/
Ontario First Nations group says feds refusing to provide aid for safe school reopening plan
August 24, 2020
THUNDER BAY, Ont. — An Ontario First Nations group says the federal government is failing to facilitate a safe back-to-school plan for its nearly 9,000 elementary and secondary school students. The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says Ottawa has “ignored urgent requests” for supplies and funding to insulate NAN schools against COVID-19.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7294442/ontario-first-nations-funding-back-to-school-coronavirus/
From centralized online schools to on-demand classes — remote learning won’t be one-size fits all
August 24, 2020
Myriad Canadians got a rough introduction to online education when the pandemic closed classrooms this spring and forced educators into rapid implementation of “emergency learning at home.” Now, as Canadian school districts grapple with a physical return to class in September, many are making plans for remote instruction, too.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/e-learning-fall-update-1.5695047
Kenjgewin Teg, Wiikwemkoong, Canadore partner to fill PSW need on Manitoulin Island
August 24, 2020
In order to meet a need for personal support workers (PSW), Kenjgewin Teg and Wiikwemkoong are partnering to offer free courses on Manitoulin Island. The two-semester PSW courses are run in partnership with Canadore College, and will see students complete a practical placement with either Manitoulin Lodge, Manitoulin Centennial Manor, or the Wikwemikong Nursing Home (WNH). “There’s always shortages in PSWs everywhere, whether in LTC, home or community care,” said WNH administrator Cheryl Osawabine-Peltier. “The reason we’re really pushing for this program right now is we’re working on redeveloping our nursing home by 2025.”
Ontario First Nations group says feds refusing to provide aid for safe school reopening plan
August 24, 2020
An Ontario First Nations group says the federal government is failing to facilitate a safe back-to-school plan for its nearly 9,000 elementary and secondary school students. The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says Ottawa has “ignored urgent requests” for supplies and funding to insulate NAN schools against COVID-19. Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox says NAN communities are in particular need of personal protective equipment and sanitization supplies. He says the group has requested $33 million in government aid to cover those costs, but has been told its plans are too “far-reaching.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/7294442/ontario-first-nations-funding-back-to-school-coronavirus/
Four women, four bands, four scholarships: Northerners honoured in annual First Nations Awards
August 23, 2020
Four northeastern Ontario women have won 2020 Student Achievement Awards and $2,000 scholarships from the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC). These awards are given to Indigenous students who are pursuing a technical career. Chantel Desrochers, Megan Laroche, Aaryn Zoccole and Bohdana Innes live or were educated in the northeast. Innes, who grew up in Wawa and Moose Factory, is studying for her master’s in architecture at Laurentian University.
Lack of funding leaves First Nations schools unready: NAN
August 22, 2020
Northern Ontario First Nations are warning they can’t guarantee a safe return to class without additional resources to address COVID-19 safety concerns. Some schools may not be ready to launch in-person classes at all come September, says Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox. NAN maintains the First Nations it represents have received little to no additional funding to prepare schools for the pandemic. Its 49 communities, located in Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 territory, deliver education to nearly 9,000 elementary and secondary students.
Sixties Scoop society calls for curriculum review adviser to be fired over racist comments about Indigenous history
August 20, 2020
The president of the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta (SSISA) is calling for Premier Jason Kenney to fire one of the province’s curriculum review advisers over racist comments he made about teaching Indigenous history. In an open letter dated Aug. 18, Adam North Peigan said the SSISA is “upset and mortified” that Chris Champion, a visiting research fellow at Queen’s University, is one of eight newly-hired advisers working on the review of Alberta’s curriculum. Champion’s focus is on social studies for kindergarten to Grade 4
