Decisions and discussions at AES gathering

December 11, 2018

Director of Education, Kelly Crawford (centre), prepares staff of the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body for the 23 Participating First Nations gathering of the AES on November 13, 2018, in Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation.

By Andrea Crawford

AUNDECK OMNI KANING FIRST NATION—Leadership from the Participating First Nations (PFNs) of the Anishinabek Education System (AES) gathered on November 13 in Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation. The meeting, which was opened by Elder Norma Assinewai, brought together leadership from 20 of the 23 PFNs.

Chiefs, proxies and education representatives received updates from the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB) board of directors and staff, before making decisions on several motions.

As members to the AES, the PFNs gather twice a year to keep updated on programs and services, operations, the implementation of the federal and provincial education agreements. The PFNs use the bi-annual forums to vote on major decisions related to the AES and the KEB.

Included among the decisions put forward to leadership, were motions related to the composition of the Implementation and Operations Committee, the establishment of an ad hoc KEB Chiefs Committee and on-going operations under the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement.

Participants also heard updates and held discussions on various other topics, including education funding, special projects and initiatives, the student information management system, special education funding, data sharing and consent.

KEB technicians and representatives were also in attendance of the Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly on November 14 in Little Current. This was the first event where a full complement of KEB technicians attended.

Kelly Crawford, Director of Education of the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body, provided an update to the Chiefs-in-Assembly at the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council on November 14, in Little Current, Ontario.

Kelly Crawford, the KEB Director of Education, presented to the Chiefs-in-Assembly at the Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly along with Catherine Pawis, chair of the KEB board of directors, and Tracey O’Donnell, KEB legal counsel.

The presentation provided general updates related to the AES and the KEB, which garnered high-interest from the PFNs and non-participating First Nations alike.

Following the gathering of PFNs and the update to the Chiefs-in-Assembly at the Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly, the AES has been hosting several Regional Education Council (REC) meetings in November and will continue into December. One meeting will take place in each of the four RECs of the AES, and will bring together education representatives from PFNs and from Ontario District School Boards.

The intent of the REC meetings is to provide updates on educational initiatives, to identify regional education priorities and to network and build relationships with local school boards.