Hope for Aboriginal Children Exists; It is Not on Reserves

Aboriginal children (ages 6-14) not living on reserves are as likely as all children in Canada to be doing well in school. The data were released earlier today by Statistics Canada and are based on parents' knowledge of their child's school work (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/090116/dq090116-eng.pdf ).

These findings are in stark contrast with the disastrous and well-documented educational outcomes for children educated on reserves.

Yesterday, Phil Fontaine and four other aboriginal leaders met with the Prime Minister Harper and the provincial and territorial leaders to make their case for an additional $3 billion in taxpayers' money to build houses, improve water systems and upgrade schools on reserves.

Mr. Fontaine and the other four leaders represent the chiefs and band councils that control virtually all aspects of life on reserves, including education. Implicit in their funding request must be the position that, if given this additional money, educational outcomes on reserves will be improved.

But will they? If so, by how much? Will the standards be raised to the level of aboriginals and all other Canadian children not on reserves?

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the educational results on reserves will not be improved significantly despite a massive new infusion of funding. Remember the horrendous problems several years ago at the Davis Inlet Reserve just off of the Labrador coast? Images of widespread alcoholism, children sniffing gasoline and many living in squalor were shown around the world.

The federal government quickly responded and spent $300 million to build a brand new community (Natuashish), including a school, on the nearby Labrador coast. In the winter of 2002-2003 the 700 members of the community were relocated to Natuashish. Unfortunately, life has changed little. All of the residents' earlier problems survived the move intact.

Before Mr. Fontaine and the band leaders are given any additional money, they should be required to explain to taxpayers why the outcome of this proposed new spending on infrastructure on reserves will not simply replicate the Natuashish experience.