ETFO Calls on Federal Government to Endorse UN Declaration on Indigenous
Peoples

Time to lead by example for National Week of Action on First Nations Education

TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is calling on the federal government to make good on its Throne Speech promise this year to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. ETFO's call comes in support of the Assembly of First Nations dedication of September 19-24, 2010 as a National Week of Action on First Nations Education.

"How can our First Nations people achieve equity in education and in other areas when this country has yet to affirm their rights under the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?" asked ETFO President Sam Hammond. "First Nations' access to quality education is the shared responsibility of many stakeholders and we expect the federal government to lead by example."

"The federal government provides twice as much funding for Ontario Aboriginal students who go to school off reserve as it does for those on reserve," added Hammond. "That's a situation that undoubtedly wouldn't be allowed to continue if we were signatories to the U.N. Declaration." In the March 2010 Throne Speech, the federal government said it would take steps to endorse the Declaration, which it called an "aspirational document."

For its part, this fall ETFO will co-sponsor a Northern Ontario school tour of Roseneath Theatre's production of Spirit Horse, a play about two First Nations youth written by celebrated Ojibwa playwright Drew Hayden Taylor. The tour will be a major catalyst for professional development in dance, drama, music and the visual arts and an inspirational learning experience for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

The federation continues to be a strong supporter of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival, which this year will be held November 26-28. At the festival ETFO will present curriculum resources which celebrate 2010 as the Year of the Métis Nation in Canada. The resource, which will help teachers across the province bring aboriginal issues and culture into classrooms, focuses on Métis leaders and heroes, and traditions such as talking circles.

Last month, in an announcement with Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy present, ETFO pledged $225,000 to continue its sponsorship of the Lieutenant Governor's Aboriginal Literacy Programs for the next five years. The funds will help pay for summer reading camps and a book club for First Nations youth living in fly-in communities in Ontario's far north.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and education workers across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.

For further information:

Valerie Dugale, Off: [phone]; Cell: [phone]; [email protected]