MCK condemns Canada First Nations Education Act and sends an open letter to Prime Minister Harper

11/25/2013

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) unanimously passed a Mohawk Council Executive Directive today condemning Canada’s imposition of the proposed First Nations Education Act (‘FNEA’), which is expected to be brought before Parliament early in 2014. The MCK is also sending an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper declaring Kahnawà:ke’s opposition to the impending legislation.

The Resolution includes the following statements/positions:
• Kahnawà:ke is strongly opposed to legislation that is both paternalistic and unconstitutional
• Kahnawà:ke demands that Canada immediately cease the process, remove the FNEA from the legislative calendar/agenda, and commit to discussing education directly with First Nations
• The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke will work cooperatively and call on all entities, organizations and bodies that it deems necessary in the interest of its opposition
• The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke condemns the imposition of the FNEA on this and all other First Nations that stand in opposition

The complete Mohawk Council Resolution and the open letter to the Prime Minister are available for viewing at www.kahnawake.com.

“We are working internally with the Combined Schools Committee and others to make sure that Kahnawà:ke is ready to take on a leading role in this battle against the Harper Government,” said Education Portfolio Chief Rhonda Kirby. “We will not allow the government to force feed us laws that have no reflection of our goals, philosophies and realities. The old saying, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ has never been more true.”

The MCK will be participating in upcoming meetings of the First Nations Education Council, the Assembly of First Nations, and the Iroquois Caucus, where the topic of the FNEA will be the priority agenda item.