Education funding gap needs to close declares Grand Council Chief

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says that not enough federal funding is being provided for First Nations education.
For example, provincial funding allocations from 2010 show that the school in Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishnaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation) received $4781.00 less funding per student than a school of the same size located in the municipality of Upsala that is provincially funded.
The schools are located in the same area and had the same amount of students.
Anishinabek Nation would like to see the gap in education funding close. However, the gap was not addressed when the federal government recently presented its fiscal funding offer.
In a press release from Anishinabek Nation, Madahbee expressed a need for equality within Canada’s education system.
“Canada’s fiscal offer does not address the long standing gap in band operated education funding which currently stands at about $11 million,” Madahbee said. “Our schools are already struggling with the lack of financial resources. We’re looking for comparable funding to the provincial school system. No matter where a school is situated, the school should receive the same education funding.”
Madahbee goes on to explain that less funding for First Nations education will create a gap in learning, thus preventing educational advancement.
“The gap in education funding will perpetuate the gap in learning,” said Madahbee. “The government’s own statistics consistently show the First Nations students do not advance in school as far as other Canadian children. Lack of funding is a major reason why.”
Additional funding is needed to finance the Anishinabek Education System, which is “holistically rooted in community involvement, Anishnaabe identity, and meaningful First Nations curriculum.” Once implemented, the system is said to be able to provide educational success for First Nations children and youth.
For the last 18 years, Anishinabek Nation has been negotiating the Anishinabek Education System agreement with Canada.