Proposed legislation seeks greater input from Indigenous groups on schooling

Dennis Leon (centre) of the Kwantlen First Nation unveils the Welcome Figure at Douglas Elementary with, from left, principal Sundeep Chohan, Trustee Laurae McNally, two students, Surrey Board of Education Vice-Chair Gary Tymoschuk and Indigenous artist Gary Leon of the Sts'ailes First Nation.

The province is proposing amendments to the School Act that would give Indigenous voices more say on decisions affecting the education of Indigenous students in B.C. schools, support better education outcomes for K-12 Indigenous students and improve relationships between school boards and First Nations.

The legislation, if approved, would require all school boards to establish an Indigenous education council in their district to ensure Indigenous people have input on decisions and processes affecting Indigenous students – something Surrey Schools did three years ago. The legislation would also ensure that First Nations and Treaty First Nations have the option to apply a model local education agreement (LEA) with school boards, should a First Nation request it.

“School districts and boards are trying to make decisions about what their school system does for Indigenous learners, and they want direction from the leadership of their local Indigenous community,” said Lyn Daniels, Surrey Schools’ director of instruction with Indigenous Learning. “It just makes sense to establish a council.”

The proposed amendments were developed collaboratively with the First Nations Education Steering Committee and reflect consultation with First Nations and Indigenous people throughout B.C. They would also fulfill commitments in the Declaration Act action plan and the B.C. Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA).

Daniels said Surrey Schools established an Indigenous Leadership Council (ILC) three years ago to provide a platform for Indigenous voices on educational matters, well ahead of the province’s proposed legislation. The ILC is made up of Chief and Council from the Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations, as well as representation from Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) and the executive director from Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA).

“Before the council was established, there were these large advisory committees made up of First Nations representatives and school district representatives,” she said. “There were so many voices and so many people that you couldn’t focus on what the Indigenous representatives thought and felt about the issues.”

Daniels said Indigenous education councils help ensure that Indigenous voices are heard. The district also has an  Indigenous Education Committee, which carries out the work of the Racial Equity Strategic Plan.

Daniels noted the district also has a local education agreement with the Katzie First Nation for students living on reserve on Barnston Island. LEAs govern the purchase of educational services by First Nations from school boards and set out processes for information sharing, collaboration and decision making. LEAs can establish a foundation for positive relationships between First Nations and school boards to support improved student outcomes and engage on broader issues.

“The federal government is responsible for the education of the children who live on reserve,” said Daniels. “There has to be an agreement for what that education is, what is provided, what the services are, and that’s what the agreement outlines.

“Our district has already done those things, now they’re putting the law behind these things.”

While the district has already taken steps in Surrey and White Rock similar to the proposed amendments to improve Indigenous education, Daniels said it’s great to see the provincial government follow suit for other districts across B.C.

“It’s really encouraging that the leadership of our Indigenous communities are working together on education,” she said.