Grand Chief to speak against Canada’s First Nations Education Act on Tuesday

12/02/2013

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Grand Chief Michael Ahríhron Delisle, Jr. and Education Portfolio Chief Rhonda Kirby will be participating in the First Nations Education Council meeting being held today in St. Sauveur. A delegation of Kahnawa’kehró:non – including members of the Kahnawake Education Working Group – will be attending the meeting, which is part of a three day conference organized by the body that speaks on First Nations education issues in the Quebec region.

Grand Chief Delisle will speak on Kahnawà:ke’s rejection and condemnation of Canada’s First Nations Education Act (‘FNEA’), which is expected to be passed into legislation by the Harper government in the near future.

“Our message has been delivered to the Prime Minister,” said Chief Delisle. “At this time, we’d like to drive home the point that we need to stand together on a community, regional and national basis to reject this oppressive piece of unwelcomed legislation.”

Last week the MCK unanimously passed a Mohawk Council Executive Directive condemning Canada’s imposition of the proposed FNEA’). The MCK simultaneously sent a strongly-worded open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that declared Kahnawà:ke’s opposition to the impending legislation.

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

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