The federal government has begun intensive consultations in preparing a First Nations Education Act.
Right now, the Indian Act is silent on educational standards, or even any kind of educational system for that matter. The federal government aims to fill that gap by creating legislation.
Government and First Nations leaders should ensure that any new system focuses on parental choice and accountability. A new First Nations education system should ensure that families have as many choices as possible, including voucher and charter school options.
The default option should not only be band-operated schools. Independent school authorities should emphasize distance between schools and elected band officials.
This past Frontier Centre piece in the National Post outlines a positive and results-oriented vision for Aboriginal education.