Squamish Nation votes to reclaim control of its education system

The Squamish Nation has voted toreclaimauthority overits education system.

SxwixtnWilson Williams, an electedcouncillor and spokesperson for Squamish Nation, says a referendumamong members saw more than 87 per cent vote in favour of having the nationdevelopits own education law and enterinto an education jurisdiction agreement with the federal government.

He says the goal is for the SquamishNation to have authority over its kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education system, buildinga curriculum with a focus onland-based learning and traditional ways of knowing.

Teaching Squamish culture andSwxw7mesh snchim, the Squamish language, will be essential.

He saysthe movement is aboutempowerment.

"We're revitalizing teachings that we've had since time immemorial ... we'llbe so proud to use our voiceespecially our young ones, our women,our families thatreally want to learn," Williams said.

The nation'sXwemlch'stn Etsimxwawtxw School, which offers preschool to Grade 5,will extendto Grade 6 next school year.

Exercising jurisdictionover education

In 1972, the National Indian Brotherhood now the Assembly of First Nations issued a policy paper called "Indian Control of Indian Education."

While most education is a provincial responsibility in Canada, First Nations education is under federal jurisdiction.

But in 2006, the federal government passed legislation to allow individual First Nations in B.C. to take it over.

The provincial government thenpassed legislation in2021,giving every First Nation with a jurisdiction agreement the right to certify and regulate teachers.

British Columbia's education ministrysays as of July 1, 2022, four nations Cowichan Tribes, Lil'wat Nation, aq'am, and Seabird Island have recognized law-making authority over their K-to-12 education systems, giving them the ability to develop curriculum, set graduation requirements and certify teachers.

In a statement,Rachna Singh, B.C.'s minister of education and child care, says the province issupportive of all B.C. First Nations, including the Squamish Nation, thatchoose to exercise First Nations jurisdiction over education.

The statement says the ministryworks directly with the First Nations Education Steering Committee, on behalf of negotiating First Nations, and the federal government to support thisinitiative.

"Our government is committed to meaningful and true reconciliation and will continue to work with Indigenous rights-holders and partners to tear down systemic colonial barriers in our communities and to improve outcomes for Indigenous learners across the province," Singh said in a statement.