Dawn Marie Marchand Box 6817 Bonnyville, AB T9N 2H3

April 16, 2014

Chief Bernice Martial PO Box 1769 Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 1P4 Re: First Nations Control of First Nation Education Act Dear Chief Martial: After reading and analyzing Bill C-33, I have serious and significant issues with it. I do not believe that the legislation has been fully consulted with all concerned parties to address issues such as access to language and cultural instruction which cannot be certified within the current accreditation processes. I recognize the significant work that has gone into the development and implementation of the Denesuline language in LeGeoff School. I would like to see the Delesuline students in the school broader access and opportunities for the language to be imbedded into curriculum. This expansion would not be significantly developed under this new legislation. I believe that the current definition of a joint council is too broad and will not appropriately prioritize language and cultural instruction. After spending 10 years in urban school districts; I have come to understand that non-Indigenous boards and councils in charge of Indigenous education almost always defer to their own worldview which considers our languages and cultures as deficits. Despite their best intentions, they encourage assimilation. They do this by marginalizing these things or treat them as pull-out programs or reward programs. Cold Lake First Nations children need to be wrapped in their cultural understandings and language so that they can develop the self-esteem to withstand the western education paradigm when they transfer in Grade 10. The assumption that it keeps them back is part of the assimilation that all have endured as intergenerational Indian Residential School Survivors. I have significant concern that in order to meet the criteria for inclusion into the joint councilwe will in fact exclude voices of Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Holders and Language speakers. I also believe that giving the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Development Canada the ability to remove, replace or implement any educational policy is a huge step backwards in the history of relationship within our Nations. As a Treaty Nation under Treaty 6, the most comprehensive and binding of all the Numbered Treaties between the Crown of England and our Nations; this is a huge set back akin to the re-instatement of an Indian Agent and Supervisors of the Indian Residential Schools. It is exceptionally problematic because it assumes that the Minister will act in good faith. The last time

the Minister had direct control over Education, the open agenda of the time was to assimilate children through education. There is nothing within this document which indicates that this is still not the intent. Whereas, Education falls within the scope of Treaty negotiations, it is also problematic that this deal was consulted through an agency which is not a Treaty title holder especially for those of us who are Treaty members. I am respectfully asking you to seriously consider the document within the scope of what this means historically and futuristically and remove support for it. Please look beyond the dollar amount which, is not really available for the next two years; and look at the long term erosion of what true Denesuline language, culture and pedagogy exists. Sincerely,

Dawn Marie Marchand

cc. Grand Chief Craig Makinaw Treaty No. 6 First Nations: Suite 204, 10310-176 Street Edmonton, AB T5S 1L3 cc. National Chief Shawn Atleo Assembly of First Nations 55 Metcalfe Street Suite 1600 Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5