The Dene Nation will be holding its first-ever Education Summit.
“We are at a critical time as Dene people. More than ever, we are working towards securing a strong foundation for our youth and future generations as we continue to establish cultural and language-based education programs,” Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya said in a written statement. “Going forward, this vision will set the stage for our relationship with the territorial government as it relates to Indigenous education.”
According to a news release from the Dene Nation, “The Summit will engage Dene leadership and work to develop a shared vision for indigenous education in the Northwest Territories.”
The Summit will be held from March 17 to 18, on the K’atl’odeeche First Nation Reserve in Hay River. All members of the Dene Nation are welcome to observe the Summit and welcome delegates.
The decision to plan the Summit came after a recent Auditor General’s Report on Education which highlighted “The lack of equitable access to education, an issue too familiar to Dene communities.”
The report stated that “Many schools in the North struggle with basic resources and students are required to upgrade after graduation to meet post-secondary requirements.”
To address this, the Summit will engage leadership in discussions around indigenous governance and Dene jurisdiction of education moving forward and share best practices from across the North.
Following the Summit, a visionary document is to be produced and used to guide education planning, processes and programs and, ultimately, a collaborative process with the Federal and Territorial Governments.
arthur.green@cklbradio.com
Twitter.com/artcgreen
