SADDLE LAKE EDUCATION

AUTHORITY COMMUNITY

PRESENTATION

Monday, December 04, 2017

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

We the Peoples of onchcikiskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) have a firm

belief in Natural Law (kindness, honesty, sharing, determination), which guides

and maintains our distinct way of life

We are committed to Kiskinohamakosowin ekwa kiskinohamosowiwin ekwa

mina kiskikinohamatowin, guided by Natural Law to ensure esohkahk nehiyaw

mamintoneycikan.

VISION STATEMENT

Education is a Treaty right and the onihickskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree

Nation) Education Authority will, through continuous development,

maintenance, accountability, provide quality education, which will encompass

healthy lifestyles, traditions, language, culture and modern technology and shall

utilize Indigenous knowledges of First Nations Peoples to promote self

sufficiency and empower onichcikiskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree Nation)

Introduction

Governance of the Saddle Lake Education Authority is the responsibility of

the Saddle Lake Chief and Council. The Education Authority governs all

education programs for the Saddle Lake Cree Nation including: two schools,

(Onchaminahos and Kihew Asiniy) transportation services both on-reserve and

off-reserve schools, a Post Secondary Education Program, and Early

Childhood Services Program and a Cultural Education Program. The

Education Authority operates as an Advisory Board/Committee

Saddle Lake Education Authority (SLEA) Committee Members (Board)

• Valerie Cardinal, Board Chair

• Ramona Cardinal, Co-Chair

• Leona Brertton, Committee Member

• Don Crane, Committee Member

• Fran Ward, Committee Member

• John Large, Council Member

• Pauline Hunter, Council Member

SLEA Employees

The SLEA consists of 121 employees and 20 sub contractors (bus contractors and drivers), totaling 141, as follows:

• Central Office – 3

• Post Secondary – 4

• Onchaminahos – 52

• Kihew Asiniy – 39

• Early Childhood Center – 20

• Cultural Education –1

• Transportation – 3 contractors (2 extra drivers) and 14 bus drivers

Finances

SLEA is in the final year of its second round of 5 year Block Funding

Agreement (FNFA) and total budget for all programs for the 2016-17 year was

$11,754,276 (there has been a contingency of about a 2% increase per year).

2016-17 Saddle Lake Education Authority

Audit

2017 2016

INAC funding $ 7,845,119 $ 6,934,189

AHRD/HRDC funding $ 529,454 $ 311,454

Other revenue $ 205,387 $ 179,890

Contributions CFWD ($ 157,073) $ - -

Revenue $ 8,422,887 $ 7,425,533

Expenses ($ 8,332,416) ($ 7,794,123)

Surplus (Deficit) $ 90,474 ($ 368,590)

2016-17 Saddle Lake Post Secondary Audit

2017 2016

INAC funding $ 3,331,259 $ 3,267,264

Other revenue $ 130 $ 3,040

Contributions CFWD $ - $ 393,932 -

Revenue $ 3,331,389 $ 3,664,236

Expenses ($ 3,679,499) ($ 3,592,587)

(Deficit) Surplus ($ 348,110) $ 71,649

2016-17 SLEA Operations Budget INAC REVENUE EXPENSES

Onchaminahos $2,622,457.00 $2,662,457.00

Kihew Asiniy $1,954,509.00 $1,994,509.00

Post Secondary $3,320,319.00 $3,332,519.00

Student Transportation $1,246,820.00 $1,246,820.00

Cultural Education $105,447.00 $105,447.00

Early Childhood Centre $227,580.00 $798,526.00

Operations & Maintenance $633,014.00 $633,014.00

Employee Benefits/Pension $239,526.00 $239,526.00

Day Care Pension $26,000.00

Post-Secondary Pension $10,200.00

Day Care O & M $9,354.00

OTHER REVENUE

HRDC $311,452.00

Day Care Fees $184,140.00

WOP $20,000.00

NCIB – Day Care $20,000.00

NCIB – Schools $80,000.00

Shuttle $20,000.00

TOTAL $11,012,818.00 $11,012,818.00

REVENUE 2016-2017

Onchaminahos, $2,662,457.25

Kihew Asiniy, $1,994,509.00

O & M, $633,014.00 Post - Secondary,

$3,332,519.00

Student Transportation,

$1,246,820.00

Cultural Education, $105,447.00

Early Childhood Centre, $816,526.00

Employee Benefits/Pension (Central Office), $239,526.00

INAC REVENUE: $ 10,395,226

HRDC, $311,452.00

Daycare Fees, $184,140.00

WOP, $20,000.00

NCIB - Daycare, $20,000.00

NCIB - Schools, $80,000.00

Shuttle, $2,000.00

OTHER REVENUE: $ 617,592

TOTAL SLEA REVENUE: $ 11,012,818

2016-2017 Expenses by Program

Onchaminahos, $2,662,457.25

Kihew Asiniy, $1,994,509.00

O & M, $633,014.00

Post - Secondary, $3,332,519.00

Student Transportation, $1,246,820.00

Cultural Education, $105,447.00

Early Childhood Centre, $816,526.00

Employee Benefits/Pension (Central Office), $239,526.00

TOTAL SLEA EXPENSES: $ 11,012,818

Wages and benefits,

$4,148,553

Contracted &

Program Services, $2,445,852

Travel, meetings,

workshops, $268,714

Post secondary

allowances, $2,909,765

Other, $2,239,025

2016-2017 Expenses by category

STUDENT ENROLLMENT – 10 YEARS

STUDENT ENROLLMENT – 10 YEARS

Programs and Managers

• Central Education Office, Debra Cardinal, Superintendent of Schools

• Onchaminahos (k-4 – Grade 5) Vera Cardinal, Principal, Krista Ketsa, V-P

• Kihew Asiniy Education Center (KAEC) Grade 6-12 and Outreach Program

• Linda Petrie, Principal, Claudine Cardinal VP and Gloria McGilvery, Outreach Coordinator

• Early Childhood Center, Claudette Houle (Candace), Director of ECC

• Cultural Education Program, Marilyn Makokis, Director of CE, Office Manager

• Post Secondary Program, Bernadine Houle-Steinhauer, Director

• Transportation, Leon Moosewah, Student Transportation Coordinator

Onchaminahos School

• 2017-18 Student Enrollment is 248 Students

• Total staff 52 – 21 Certified Teachers (includes Principal & VP), 4 Instructors, 2 Admin. Support, 1 student Counsellor, 1 librarian, 17 Teacher Assistants, 2 Cooks, and 4 O&M

• Cree Immersion – 4 Classes (Playschool, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade2/3 split) Total of 52 students

• Offers Playschool to Grade 5 with Alternative Ed and Inclusive Ed. Classrooms

• Programs and Services provided: Computer lab (20 computers) School wide Cultural Language and Activities, Support Programs: Rainbows, Care for a Smile Program, Healthy Breakfast and Lunch Program, Leadership Program, Virtues Project, Wind Runners, Tribes & Earth Walkers. Additional Services: Speech Language Services, Occupational Therapy

Kihew Asiniy Education Centre (KAEC)

• 2017-18 enrollment is at 167 students (Grade 6-12 includes Outreach enrollment of 20 students)

• Total Staff 39 – 16 Certified Teachers (included Principal & VP), 3 Instructors, 2 Admin Support, 1 Student Counsellor, 1 librarian, 11 Teacher Assistants, 2 cooks and 3 O&M staff.

• Regular academic programming, Athletics Programming (from gym to the land) Program Enhancements, Land Base Learning, Outdoor Education; Cultural Enhancements Kokom visits, Grandparents Group and Elders are used within programming.

• Services provided, Computer Lab with 19 computers, lap top charging cart with 20 systems, Smartboards, Healthy Breakfast and Lunch Program, Other Services: Counselling, Registered Psychologist (one day per week), Therapist-Networks (2 times a week)

Post Secondary Program

• Main goal is to sponsor as many students as possible based on funding received from INAC

• 2016-17, sponsored 176 students (155 full time and 19 part time)

• 2017-18 total budget is $3,393,543 (1.838% increase from previous year)

• PS Program had a deficit of $348,110 for 2016-17. This was a result of increase in number of students accepted and increase in PS Allowances as well as increased student support costs (Round dance, and student retreats)

• Services Provided: Shuttle bus service to BQ and Portage in St. Paul, Resource Room (with 4 computers) in Education office, SLPS blog, application forms can be downloaded, Student Orientation & Retreats, Student visits and graduate attendance. Bi-annual Round Dance to honor graduates. Grad Wall of Recognition.

• Concerns: Membership issue

Cultural Education Program

• The Cultural Education Program employs 1.5 positions. The Director and the Cultural Museum Personnel/Oskapayos, Calvin Cardinal

• 2016-17 Budget for Cultural Education Program is $105,447 (this amount has not changed in the past 10 years)

• Ongoing cultural activities for schools and community, pipe ceremonies, sweats, feasts, medicine/smudge picking for the students

• Provides Cultural work for some of our surrounding schools for our off-reserve students

• Provide Cultural assistance for other Programs and Leadership as requested

• Provide community hunting excursions for food (meat) for the Elders

• Maintain and upkeep of Museum

Student Transportation

• Transportation Program is managed by the Education Authority with a Transportation Coordinator

• 2016-17 budget was $2,269,737

• The SLEA currently has 21 routes. Of these 21 routes, 6 busses are contracted to 3 local contractors. Bus routes are as follows: 2 to Vilna, 4 to St. Paul, 6 to Ashmontand 6 to Saddle Lake Schools. 2 Handicap busses with routes to Saddle Lake and Ashmont.

• Approx. 520 students are bussed to off reserve schools and 260 are bussed to our local schools.

Early Childhood Center

• The ECC received the majority of their funding from the Six Independent Albert First Nations (HRDC), $311,452 and INAC $262,934 and from parents (approx. $184,000 in daycare fees)

• 2016-17 Budget for the ECC Program is $798,526

• Capacity and ratio – Max capacity of 78 children (3 months to 5 years) and as of Sept 2017 we had 68 children.

• Total staff The ECD program currently employ 20 staff. 8 staff -Level 3 Early Childhood Supervisors, 2 staff -Level 2 Early Childhood Workers, 7 staff - Level 1 Early Childhood Assistant, 2 Cooks and 1 Custodian

• All staff are encouraged to improve their skills and we have a few staff who are taking part-time course at BQ University.

Facility Upgrades & Projects

• INAC approved $2.1 million on school upgrades for the 2016-17 school year.

• The majority of the work has been completed with new windows, lighting,

mechanical upgrades on the heating systems some paving

• Daycare also received an additional $220,000 from Six Independents for

some minor repairs at the Daycare

New School - Elementary

• Saddle Lake was approved for Feasibility Study for a new Elementary School

• Manasc Issac Architecture Consulting conducted and completed Feasibility Study at the end of August 2017

• Total projected enrollment from Kindergarden to Grade 6 is 614 students

• Decision needs to be made on forecasting how many of these students will choose to come to our school to decide on the size of the school.

• Next phase – design and location

• Presentation by Manasc Issac

Education Issues (Nationally & Regionally)

• Tuition Renegotiation (Educational Service Agreements) with St. Paul Education Regional Division (SPERD) and INAC was announced in June 2017

• These tuition agreements have been in place between INAC and SPERD since 1970. There was oversight as there was absence of accountability of services to FN students, their parents and the FNs.

• The first meeting took place on Oct 10, and we were asked to select 3 task teams; Education Services, Funding and Writing.

• First Nations invited as participants to the table, not as signatory, but for ‘building capacity’.

• Process stated to take 1 to1.5 years; SPERD wants to finalize agreement by January 2019.

Transforming First Nations Elementary &

Secondary Education Policy Proposal (AFN-INAC)

• INAC/AFN Joint Colloboration on Education Process intends to result in legislation for First Nations Education

• Launched in 2016, engagement process on FN education includes:

• Community Level discussion, online surveys, Technical task teams in following areas: measurement and mutual accountability; funding mechanisms; statutory funding; post-secondary education; and early childhood education (no representation from Alta) were formed in January 2017. Leadership dialogue and regional technical discussions happened in November 2017 (for Alberta)

• INAC is recommending the that the provincial education funding models be used as a base.

Transforming Education con’t

• Concerns expressed is that the process validates the off-loading of services to the

provincial gov’t through “intergovernmental transfers”

• Treaty 8 sent a letter of non consent

• Treaty 6 Chiefs and Elders have been meeting stating their non-consent and

asserting the position to stand for our Treaties and take a sovereign stance to create,

control and assert our inherent authority and jurisdiction to education.

• AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa (Dec 5-7) Resolution may be required to

seek final approval of proposal

SLCN EDUCATION LAW - History

• In October 2013, the Federal Government introduced a draft proposal legislation in parliament call Bill C-33: First Nations Education Act.

• SLCN’s position was to reject this draft/bill act in its entirely primarily because it threatened the Crown & Treaty alliance, infringed on Indigenous Peoples inherent and oral understanding of treaty rights and responsibilities.

• BillC-33 would give the Alberta Province and Minister too much authority, if not all, and remove our authority and jurisdiction over education and also lands in which education would be conducted.

• Chief and Council authorized and mandate the SLEA to assemble a Education Law Committee on October 21, 2013

• The Education Law Committee made of Elders, Educators, Directors, President, Board Members, Council, Lawyers, Grassroots and Youth

Mandate of SLCN Education Law

• Making a Law respecting and honoring our historically inherent nehiyaw education system.

• As a Nation we possess the ability to exercise control and direction over the education of each generation as set out in the nehiyaw laws of miyo-opihkinawasiwin, wahkohtowin and many others that are not written but found in our ceremonies.

• This Education Law gives voice to onihcikiskwapowin People’s inherent right and responsibility as confirmed by our sacred inherent knowledge that is maintained, recognized and exercised by individuals and the collective of the onihcikiskwapowin.

• This law guides and directs the education of each student as a clan or relational obligation as understood and applied by each Indigenous Nation within a living tradition where the student is the center of the Nation.

SLCN Education Law

• Indigenous Jurisdiction and authority of teaching, language, and practice is a

lifelong right and obligation.

• This is a living document that will evolve to meet the educational needs and

aspirations of our Nation now and in the future.

• The SLCN Education Law was passed in principle in May, 2016 by the

previous Leadership.

• Where do we go from here?

Thank You!