Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on June 12th, 2006

[Patrick Brazeau]

With respect to the funding situation this year, we are pleased because it's at least a first step into recognizing the constituency for whom we advocate.

As to whether we've had any discussions about increasing the federal off-reserve funding, we have, absolutely. In fact, during the campaign we asked this government a series of 10 questions, basically, and the response they provided was that they will be conducting a full review of INAC spending to have a more equitable distribution of funding for people on and off reserve. We have had these discussions with Minister Prentice already.

With reference to your earlier comment about not mentioning any Saskatchewan affiliates of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, you've done your homework; currently we do not have any affiliates in the province of Saskatchewan. That is because a few years ago--I don't want to get into details--we did run into unaccountable organizations, and I, as a young leader, do not support any such organizations. I think you can surely sympathize with the lack of accountability and some of the discussions out there with respect to aboriginal people and not being accountable, which in some cases is the case and in others is not.

We're looking at having serious discussions with groups out there currently who want to affiliate themselves with the congress, some because they feel they are not represented by the AFN and some because they feel they are not represented by MNC, and that's been the mandate of our organization. The way to get past that—unfortunately, I don't see it happening, but we're still trying—is to try to work with other organizations and not let it be a jurisdictional question. It's a matter of people, and that's why we're here--for the people.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you.

You have one more question from the government side.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I would like to follow up on a previous question, then, as it relates to the first ministers conference. We agree that we support the objectives and targets. If we can focus today on the educational aspect of it, what good things from that conference can we take and move forward on, as they relate to education?

[Patrick Brazeau]

I don't have the figures in front of me, but a nominal amount was earmarked for education. In terms of the language or of interpretation with respect to the language, we didn't see any benefits, or very few benefits, for the off-reserve population.

Having said that, maybe I digress. There was some money earmarked for off-reserve use, but was it enough? Absolutely not. More importantly, what's important, to be specific and answer your question, is to ensure that our affiliates across the country, in relation to any moneys--not just for education but for any wide array of issues--are full partners in how any future programs will be implemented to ensure that they actually benefit the people with real needs.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Mr. Blaney.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A moment ago, I was going to say that between 1996 and 2001, the percentage of students having completed high school rose by 4%. Here we're talking about aboriginal students living off-reserve. So it seems the situation is improving.

You talked about assimilation. I'd like to know how you see your mandate in terms of the integration of aboriginal people living off-reserve into the education system. Is this integration complementary in your view? Also, how do you think you can help them? Do you want them out of the curriculum, or do you intend to create schools for off-reserve aboriginal people?

[Patrick Brazeau]

Thank you for your question.

First, according to statistics, it's true that more and more aboriginal people complete high school and post-secondary studies. However, there is a reality that statistics don't show: more aboriginal people move to urban centres to study, and as a consequence, there are more requests for financing.

Second, you talked about the integration of aboriginal people in schools. Those who live off-reserve are integrated into the provincial school systems where, unfortunately, the curriculum does not include awareness to their culture, although this was laid down by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1996.

We want to look at how we can develop a curriculum for aboriginal people in urban centres, how we can involve aboriginal people in the implementation of curricula, and how we can attract aboriginal teachers, who will be more sensitive to aboriginal people and issues once they are integrated into the provincial system.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

So it's complementary. You don't necessarily want to create...

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I'm going to end questions now. We're out of time.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Do you want to have separate entities, or would you rather integrate or enhance existing curricula?

[Patrick Brazeau]

Given the jurisdictions...

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

I'm going to end questions now. That's it. We've run out of time.

I want to thank the witnesses, National Chief Brazeau and Mr. Peltier. Thank you very much for appearing and being very informative to the committee on some of the challenges that we'll face in the future as we try to recommend good policy to our minister and the department.

Thank you very much.

[Patrick Brazeau]

You're welcome. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Committee members, we haven't had a subcommittee meeting and we have to deal with some issues with regard to possible witnesses for Wednesday.

I have one possible witness, and it's only at the pleasure of this committee, and that's the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada. They would be prepared to be a witness for half of the meeting. For the other half of the meeting, maybe we could deal with focusing on our priorities as far as education is concerned and looking at the list of witnesses and going through that. Would that be acceptable?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Yes, that's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Then that's what we shall do.

[Anita Neville, Liberal, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, I apologize. We neglected to submit our list. We will do that and give it to the clerk within the next day.

[The Chair, Conservative, Colin Mayes]

Thank you.

This meeting is adjourned.