Robert-Falcon Ouellette, University of Manitoba

Article 26(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Pierre Trudeau and his White Paper

1969 Indian status went againt neo-liberal

beliefs of equality

The Unjust Society was Cardinal's personal response to the Chrétien/Trudeau White Paper. immediate Canadian best-seller

Cardinal's words galvanized the First Nations of Canada into action.

The result was a complete about-face by the federal government on the policies of the White Paper and the establishment of joint meetings between First Nations and the federal cabinet in the early 1970s.

Premier Harry Strom (Alberta), Harold Cardinal and Jean Chrétien, minister of Indian Affairs, 18 dec 1970

Indian Control of Indian Education

1972 Reaction the White Paper in educationThe need to learn that happiness and

satisfaction come from:1. pride in oneself;2. understanding one's fellowmen; and3. living in harmony with nature.

make provision for education as a matter to be decided upon by the Natives “and further, Her Majesty agrees to maintain a school on each reserve hereby made whenever the Indians of the reserve should desire it.’

the equal-to-equal basis of the treaties disappeared to be replaced by a more authoritarian one exercised by the federal government.

“And further, Her Majesty agrees to maintain schools for instruction in such reserves hereby made as to Her Government of Her Dominion of Canada may seem advisable whenever the Indians of the reserve shall desire it.”

“Further, Her Majesty agrees to maintain a school in the reserve allotted to each band as soon as they settle on said reserve and are prepared for a teacher.

That the principal conditions of the Treaties may be briefly stated as follows:

7. Schools to be established on each Reserve as soon as the Indians settle thereon.”

“Her Majesty or Her successors, may in Her good pleasure, see fit to grant to the Mission established at or near Beren's River by the Methodist Church of Canada, for a church, school-house, parsonage, burial ground and farm, or other mission purposes;

And further, Her Majesty agrees to maintain schools for instruction in such reserves hereby made as to Her Government of the Dominion of Canada may seem advisable, whenever the Indians of the reserve shall desire it.”

“And further, Her Majesty agrees to maintain schools for instruction in such reserves hereby made as to Her Government of the Dominion of Canada may seem advisable, whenever the Indians of the reserve shall desire it.”

No specific provision about education

When the school is on the reserve, the child lives with his parents who are savages; he is surrounded by savages, and though he may learn to read and write, his habits and training and mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. It has been strongly pressed upon myself, as head of the Department that Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence…where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men. House of Commons, May 9, 1883

No specific provision in the treaty for education

Further, His Majesty agrees to pay such salaries of teachers to instruct the children of said Indians, and also to provide such school buildings and educational

The treaty was witnessed by Duncan Campbell Scott

I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone… Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department. That is the whole object of this Bill.

Evidence given before a special committee of the House in 1920

In 1879 Duncan Campbell Scott joined the federal Department of Indian Affairs. He became its deputy superintendent in 1913, a post he held until his retirement in 1932. He is also known as an early Confederation short story writer and poet. His real ambition was to become a doctor, but his family’s finances were precarious and he was forced to become a federal civil servant (McDougall, 2009).

“Further His Majesty agrees to make such provision as may from time to time be deemed advisable for the education of the Indian children.”

I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone… Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department. That is the whole object of this Bill.

Evidence given before a special committee of the House in 1920

“FURTHER, His Majesty agrees to pay the salaries of teachers to instruct the children of said Indians in such manner as His Majesty's Government may deem advisable.”

Ekosani - Meegwetch

Robert-Falcon OuelletteUniversity of Manitoba

www.attheedgeofcanada.blogspot.com