Nipissing First Nation part of landmark federal legislation

Ottawa has given the green light to the creation of the Anishinabek Education System MP’s endorsed the legislation yesterday.

The agreement means there will be Anishinabek control of education on first nations, including Nipissing First Nation, from JK to Grade 12.

In Ottawa yesterday, Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee said 23 nations are involved.

“We have a number of other communities that are coming on board shortly, we’ve got some exciting things to share with the provincial school system and with our Federal friends we’ve developed an education system, it’s taken over 20 years to come to this day,” he says.

Madahbee also says they’re working with the province too.

“We’ll be having reciprocal tuition arrangements with the province, so that the best of both systems will be married into building the capacity and the education of our children,” he says.

The bill to create the largest education self government agreement in the country now goes to the Senate, and is expected to take effect on April 1st, 2018.

MP Anthony Rota, who had the honour of being in the Speaker’s Chair for this monumental debate, says the Anishinabek Nation will have the autonomy to create a learning environment that respects and reflects their culture, history and traditions.