AFN EDUCATION: Updates and Post-Secondary Education

First Nations Post-Secondary Education The Review Process 2017 Federal Budget announced $90 million over two years, beginning in 2017-2018, to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), as well as a comprehensive and collaborative review with Indigenous partners of all current federal programs that support Indigenous students who wish to pursue a post-secondary education. In 2017, AFN Resolution 14/2017, Post-Secondary Education Federal Review, called on the federal government to ensure the federal post-secondary review will have a First Nations specific review and directed the Chiefs Committee on Education to lead the First Nations portion of the federal post–secondary review, with support from the National Indian Education Council. In Winter 2017/2018, the First Nations Post-Secondary Education Review Group met to discuss First Nations Post-Secondary Education (PSE) and developed The First Nations Post-Secondary Education 2018 Interim Report. There is a history of a 2 year process that led to this point. January 2017: Post-Secondary Education Task Team, working under Terms of Reference for Joint Collaboration V17 Announcement of Budget 2017: The comprehensive review, launched a separate process for Post-Secondary Education. Chiefs advocated for a separate First Nations led process and passed Resolution 14/2017. Winter 2017/2018: There were 3 meetings of 3 days, held in Ottawa for the First Nations Post-Secondary Education Review 40 First Nations reps from across Canada with expertise in PSE Technical Table for Student Supports Technical Table for First Nations Institutes Independent consultant led the process and developed the First Nations Post-Secondary Education 2018 Interim Report

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Associated Publications (www.afn.ca) First Nations Post-Secondary Education Review 2018 Interim Report PSE Fact Sheet 2018 PSE Institutes Costing Report 2018 First Nations Post-Secondary Education Review Video The review process produced several documents and research including: The Report, as previously stated The PSE Fact Sheet 2018 which highlights the Gap in Post-Secondary Education attainment and the “backlog” of potential PSE students PSE Institutes Costing Report, developed by an economist, examined the various costs across different types of First Nations Institutes In addition: An independent legal review was commissioned on the Treaty right to education. Updated costing to support advocating increased investments for Students was commissioned by an economist.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Mandate 2018 Annual General Assembly, AFN Resolution 29/2018 included the following: Accept the AFN Post-Secondary Education Review 2018 Interim Report. Called on the federal government to extend and expand funding commitments to fully support First Nations post-secondary education. Directed the AFN, Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) and National Indian Education Council (NIEC) to work in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to develop an honourable, joint process that supports existing regional models and the development of regional processes and new models to seek a new policy authority for post-secondary education. In July 2018 the First nations Post-Secondary Education 2018 Interim Report was accepted by the AFN Chiefs in Assembly via Resolution 29/2018 This resolution provided the mandate to develop the First Nations Post-Secondary Education Policy Proposal and address advocacy for increased and expanded, immediate funding for First Nations Post-Secondary Education. The resolution outlined that the Chiefs Committee on Education and National Indian Education Council would work in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada to develop an honourable, joint process for the development of new First Nations PSE models.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Mandates September and October 2018: First Nations representatives from the NIEC, AFN Education Sector and ISC met weekly to jointly develop the First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal. This proposal aligns with the principle of First Nations Control of First Nations Education, and the following AFN Resolutions: AFN Resolution 36/2016, Inherent and Treaty Right to Post-Secondary Education AFN Resolution 40/2016, Call on Canada to address the backlog of eligible First Nation post-secondary students AFN Resolution 94/2016, Changes to the Post-Secondary Students National Policy Guidelines AFN Resolution 122/2016, Post-Secondary Education AFN Resolution 14/2017, Post-Secondary Education Federal Review AFN Resolution 29/2018, First Nations Post-Secondary Education Review Report and Recommendations The Post-Secondary Education Working Group, made up of the National Indian Education Council, AFN Education Sector and Indigenous Services Canada entered into a co-development process to produce the PSE Policy Proposal. The AFN Chiefs in Assembly have passed many resolutions on Post-Secondary Education over the last decade, here is a list of the most recent. The direction and mandates of these resolutions, along with the Interim Report informed and guided the development of the PSE Policy Proposal.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal – Two Part Approach Implementing immediate new investments and Modernizing Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) and Post-Secondary Partnership Program (PSPP) in 2019-2020. Supporting the development of First Nations-led Treaty-based and/or regional-based processes to co-develop models that will best support First Nations post-secondary education, inclusive of preparation, through a three year $15.5M investment, starting in 2019-2020.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal First Nations proposed approach includes: Immediate investments for students beginning 2019-2020 (additional to current funding and on-going): $45M (continuing annually, the two-year investment in PSSSP announced in Budget 2017). $210.4M PSSSP top-up to commensurate with the real costs for currently funded students. $102.4M PSSSP top-up to commensurate with the real costs for current unfunded students. Seeking Immediate Investments for First Nations Post-Secondary Education (all funds are in addition to current funding) There are currently 79,000 First Nations people aged 25-64 who could enroll but are not enrolled. Currently 23,000 students funded through PSSSP at an average of $13,000 Currently 9,000 students enrolled in PSE who are not funded through PSSSP   Students $45M to continue annually for students in Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP). $210M top up to PSSSP to support current students at real costs, and on-going. $102M top up to PSSSP to support unfunded students, and on-going. Total Student Supports: $357M yearly in additional funding

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal Immediate Investments for First Nations established Institutions and Community-Based Programming $62.1M immediate investment to be used for First Nations directed support for First Nations established institutions and for community-based programming. Immediate Investments for Upgrading and Completing $124.5.M transitional funding for secondary upgrading and/or completion, in order for First Nations students to be prepared for post-secondary education. First Nations Institutes and Community-Based Programming $63M immediate investment, and on-going.   Transitional Funding – for upgrading and completing in order to attend PSE New stream of funding to be created to support students who need upgrading. $124M immediate investment, increases on-going.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal Long sought after changes to PSSSP and PSPP in 2019-2020 Problematic PSSSP program restrictions (student eligibility, residency clause, eligible expenditures, etc.) will be removed. PSPP will be modified to be a First Nations directed and First Nations only, regionally delivered program that supports First Nations established post-secondary education institutions and First Nations directed community-based programming. Long sought after changes to Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) and Post-Secondary Partnership Program (PSPP) Remove Canada residency clause and restrictive eligibility requirements of PSSSP. Ensure funding for post-secondary institutes is available only to First Nations Institutes. New stream of funding for Community-Based Programming.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Draft Policy Proposal First Nations-led Treaty based and /or regional based processes to co-develop models that will best support First Nations post-secondary education ($15.5M investment, starting in 2019-2020) The funding to support the model development will support a range of activity including: exploratory discussions, engagement, partnership tables, and model design. These partnership tables will be led by First Nations. First Nations will be able to identify their specific needs for: Student Supports, Community Support Services, First Nations established institutes, Community-based programming, Governance and Leadership capacity, and the costs associated. These models, once created, will be First Nations directed and managed in line with First Nations Control of First Nations Education. First Nations Post-Secondary Models: Treaty-based, Self-government based, regionally based. $15M, over 3 years, for First Nations-led processes. First Nations will have the opportunity to develop their own Post-Secondary Education models through a Treaty-based, self-government based, regional or individual process. Designing models to include: Student supports, Community Support Services, First Nations Established Institutes, Community-based programming, Governance and Leadership Capacity

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Limitations This is a policy proposal with accompanied budgetary advocacy. These funds have not been secured. All funds referenced in this presentation, if secured, are in addition to current funding levels. The AFN and First Nations will continue to highlight the outstanding need for post-secondary education to move First Nations priorities forward. Any new investments will come with the release of the 2019 Federal Budget.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Resolution THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly: Reaffirm First Nations’ inherent and Treaty Rights to post-secondary education (PSE). Reaffirm that jurisdiction over First Nations education remains with each First Nation. Affirm that the process concerning the First Nations PSE policy proposal is not intended to detract or hinder First Nations from advancing their PSE processes.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Resolution THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly: 4. Support the recommended First Nations PSE policy proposal as represented in Policy Proposal (v8) to be presented to Cabinet as the First Nations submission through Indigenous Services Canada’s Memorandum to Cabinet. The policy proposal outlines the following: a. Calls on the federal government to provide immediate investments to address the backlog of First Nations PSE students, support First Nations established institutes, and provide transitional funding for upgrading and completion in order to pursue PSE. b. Seeks long-sought after changes to current PSE programs, Post-Secondary Student Support Programs (PSSSP). c. Restructuring of Post-Secondary Partnership Program (PSPP) to align with the changes expressed in the policy proposal.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Resolution THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly: 5. Proposes Treaty based, self-government based and/or regionally determined process for First Nations to develop PSE models. Urge the Government of Canada to present the First Nations PSE policy proposal, jointly developed by First Nations and Indigenous Services Canada, to the Cabinet of Canada with an AFN Chiefs Committee on Education member.

First Nations Post-Secondary Education Questions?