CAP NATIONAL CHIEF CALLS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES REGARDLESS OF STATUS
Brazeau insists that all Aboriginal peoples be given the chance to ‘learn and earn’
(November 20, 2007 - Ottawa, Ontario) “Education for Aboriginal People is the key that will unlock a future of success. The large growing population of Aboriginal children and youth means that there is a lot at stake in moving forward on this agenda”, said CAP National Chief Brazeau.
In a press conference held today at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian Council on Learning and its Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre announced its development of an innovative approach to Aboriginal learning, which is destined to contribute to a higher quality of life for Aboriginal Peoples across Canada.
“Although CAP is supportive of the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, there is a great deal of work required to ensure that off-reserve Aboriginal people are properly profiled in the distinctions-based frameworks that have been developed”, said the National Chief.
From a practical perspective rooted in equity and inclusion of all Aboriginal peoples, CAP does not accept a distinctions-based approach to life-long learning. These approaches fail to capture the reality of Aboriginal people in Canada and it basically, is discriminatory and excludes the majority of the Aboriginal population.
“Distinction-based models on education and life-long learning were issues that were discussed in Kelowna in 2005. They are the singular reason for the failure of the Kelowna process, said National Chief Brazeau.
“How can we, as Canadians, accept processes in 2007 that will exclude a significant portion of our Aboriginal population” asked the National Chief.
There is a reality that in urban communities, mixed Aboriginal families can include Status and Non-Status Indians and/or Metis, Inuit members. So, developing distinctions models for the design and delivery of education will result in mixed Aboriginal families across the country being excluded or family members being unequally served. “This is the danger of simplifying an already complex problem”, added the National Chief.
CAP, in consultation with the Canadian Council on Learning, is prepared to work to immediately review these educational models to ensure none of our Aboriginal peoples gets left behind and that opportunity is made available to all those in need.
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