First Nations schools are funded by the Canadian federal government, whereas other publicly funded schools are the province’s financial responsibility. As provinces across the country were determining the safety measures that needed to be in place for public schools to reopen in September, inexplicably, First Nations schools were largely left to handle preparations themselves, without any resources or support. In fact, only in late August did the federal government announce that it would provide $112-million in funding for schools on reserves to help pay for things such as ventilation, personal protective equipment, and cleaning supplies. Unsurprisingly, by mid-September, these dollars had not yet started to find their way to First Nations schools.
It's September, and First Nations schools have yet to see any of the $112 million pledged by the federal gov't to support safe school reopening.
I spoke to a handful of educators who work in #IndigenousEd to see how they're faring:https://t.co/w3xH8zpWOY
— Charnel Anderson (@charneland) September 10, 2020
On October 30, CBC covered that the federal government had released $200-million more in pandemic support for Indigenous communities to target childcare, education, and infrastructure. First Nations school infrastructure has frequently been noted as being overcrowded and in very poor condition. Therefore, amidst a global pandemic, sufficient and timely funding to address safety concerns should have been paramount.
Even though First Nations schools are funded federally, in an Ontario funding announcement the last week of October, the provincial government said that $6.5-million of the $1-billion announced would be directed toward Indigenous and on-reserve education, through the Ministry of Infrastructure in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Indigenous Affairs. In Saskatchewan, more than 20 First Nations schools have closed due to COVID-19 fears, according to an October 30 CBC article.
Fix Our Schools believes that the federal and provincial funding that has been provided is likely far from sufficient to ensure all First Nations school infrastructure is safe, healthy, and well-maintained. We urge further steps by both provincial governments and the federal government towards ensuring adequate and stable funding for all First Nations schools and Indigenous children.