HomeMy WebLinkAboutChair's Correspondence - Letter to Minister of Education concerning Indigenous Trustee requestOffice of the Chair of the Board
13 November 2023
The Honourable Stephen Lecce
Minister of Education
438 University Ave,5th Floor
Toronto,Ontario
M7A 1N3
Dear Minister Lecce:
I am writing to ask you to revise Ontario Regulation 462/97 First Nations
Representation of Boards.At our meeting on 30 October 2023,and following a
recommendation from its Indigenous Education Council (IEC),the
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)unanimously approved urging
you to implement whatever legislative changes are required for the
implementation of an Indigenous Board member position within the OCDSB.
Currently,an Indigenous Board member can only be appointed where the Board
has admitted pupils from a band from outside the Board's area of jurisdiction,or
an agreement is in place to provide instruction to pupils from a band,in
accordance with section 188(1)of the Education Act.
This regulation fails to provide for the representation of thousands of Indigenous
students who live in urban areas,do not reside on reserve,and/or are not
represented by the local nation.In Ottawa,this is especially true for students
who are Inuit,Métis,non-status,or come from other First Nation communities.
Our Indigenous,Equity,and Human Rights Roadmap:Eliminating Barriers to
Success,2020-2023 affirms the OCDSB’s unique responsibility and
commitment to the diverse population of Indigenous students we serve.The
OCDSB seeks to honour our commitment to the Calls to Action expressed in
the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015.We also wish to
honour the principles endorsed by Canada in 2010 in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,particularly Articles 14 and
15,which reinforce the rights of Indigenous peoples to have the dignity and
diversity of their cultures,traditions,histories and aspirations reflected in
education.
Unlike many other boards across the province,the OCDSB has no
agreements regarding the provision of education services with the federal
Crown,or with any First Nations band or council and is,therefore,unable to
appoint an Indigenous trustee to the Board with rights and responsibilities
equivalent to those of a board member elected under the Municipal Elections
Act.
The OCDSB is located in the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the
Algonquin people.However,Ottawa is not only home to the Algonquin Nation.
Ottawa has the highest population of Inuit in Ontario,and Indigenous peoples
from various First Nations and Métis communities reside here.Presently,our
enrolment includes approximately 1500 students,or 2%,who have
self-identified as First Nations,Métis,or Inuit,as well as an unknown number
who have not self-identified.
Recent data indicates that Indigenous students in the OCDSB face many
barriers to their success.An Indigenous voice and vote at the Board table,
elected by members of Indigenous communities in Ottawa,would assist us in
dismantling the structures,processes,and practices that are barriers to
success for our Indigenous students,and equip us to further incorporate
Indigenous ways of learning and knowledge into our programs and policies.
To align with the commitments outlined on the government website regarding
Ontario's Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples,allowing for
Indigenous representation on the OCDSB Board of Trustees would be an
essential step forward.It is a priority for Indigenous communities in Ottawa and
especially for our Indigenous students.
We shared this request with you in February,2021 and are now bringing it
forward again.In the immediate,we request that you authorize the OCDSB to
appoint an Indigenous representative to sit as a Board member for the
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board as well as encouraging and authorizing
other urban boards with Indigenous populations to do the same.Finally,we are
looking for a permanent mechanism to be created allowing Indigenous
members of the community to elect an Indigenous Trustee in urban areas in
accordance with democratic principles.
Sincerely,
Lyra Evans
Chair,Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
cc:
Trustees,Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Senior Staff,Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
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