East Central First Nations Education Partnership
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tral First en N C a ti t Nurture o s n East Central First Nations a Empower s E Future Tre les of aty Artic Education Partnership E Issue 1 March 2018 d ip u h ca rs ti e on Par tn Interim President of the on the strengths and weaknesses in the present Indigenous school system. “It Partnership Board has a Plan became natural for me to think about the system and develop concepts to address the Randy Constant is a member of the James deficiencies, and to think about how to find Smith Cree Nation and Principal of Bernard solutions,” said Mr. Constant. Constant Community School. Mr. Constant is the Interim President of the East Central Looking back at his time while attending Introducing the interim board First Nations Education Partnership, and he schools on-reserve, Mr. Constant comments wants members of the three communities that up-to-date technology was always an of the East Central First to know that he has a plan. According to issue, where we were in the never ending Nations Education Partnership Mr. Constant, “The theme of the plan is cycle of playing catch-up. “The internet was to reach out to the members of the three much slower back then,” he said with a laugh. In the late fall of 2016, there was an participating First Nations by providing Besides being an educator, Mr. Constant and expressed interest in investigating the merits membership factual and relevant information his wife Wendy Constant have two daughters, of establishing an “Education Partnership” and seeking their ideas on what education one who is 22 years-old and the other who amongst a number of interested First Nations, transformation means, which will be in nine years-old. The youngest daughter including Cumberland House Cree Nation, addressed in new funding arrangements with attends Bernard Constant Community School, Shoal Lake Cree Nation and James Smith the Government of Canada.” and as a parent he has identified strengths Cree Nation. The purpose was to explore The principal has been working in the field of and weaknesses in the current funding assuming governance and management education since he graduated from Bernard formula. His wife Ms. Constant works in the of education. Following discussions with Constant Community School with a Grade Nursery Program at the school. representatives from Indian and Northern 12 in 1988. He worked at odd jobs after Affairs Canada (INAC) (now Indigenous his Grade 12 graduation, then returned to In explaining how the community of James Services Canada), the Chiefs supported Bernard Constant Community School as a Smith Cree Nation became involved in the the development of a proposal that was volunteer. After working as a volunteer, he Partnership, Mr. Constant explains it in this submitted to INAC in January 2017. became an education assistant, and then the manner. “Vernon Greyeyes was the principal of Bernard Constant Community School for There were delays in the approval of the school’s community liaison officer. the past two years until he became ill. proposal. Following face to face meetings Always looking to learn more and wanting to Continued on next page... with INAC representatives in June 2017, try something new, Mr. Constant then went the proposal was ultimately approved back to school, attending the University of in September, following INAC initiated Regina and obtaining his bachelor of arts modifications. The flow of resources was degree in 2001. “This gave me that inner finalized in October of 2017. confidence to continue, as I knew I could Following the final approval and the provision succeed,” noted Mr. Constant. In 2003, of funds, an interim board was proposed. Mr. Constant graduated with a bachelor of It was approved by the leadership, and education from the University of Regina and duly incorporated in the fall of 2017. The started teaching at a Treaty 4 First Nation. interim board is composed of the following: In the fall of 2005, he returned to his home President Randy Constant and Secretary- community accepting a position of vice- treasurer Faye Head from James Smith Cree principal. Last year he became the Principal Nation, Principal Abraham Amponsah and of Bernard Constant Community School. Marcia Seeseequasis of Cumberland House His time at Bernard Constant Community Interim President and James Smith Cree Nation Cree Nation, and Vice-principal Harold (Butch) representative Randy Constant of the East Central First School has provided Mr. Constant with an Carriere and Councillor Eldon Whitecap. Nations Education Partnership. invaluable source of knowledge and insights Inside Introduction .............................................1 Interim President .....................................1 Interim Board Members .......................2-4 History of First Nation Education in Canada ................................................4 Message from the Chiefs .....................5-7 The Benefits of the Education Partnership ..............................................8 Terminology for Education Services .......8 In Memorium Vernon Greyeyes ..............9 Graphic Identifier for the Partnership ..............................................9 Communications and Consultations .....10 Budget Considerations for the Partnership ............................................11 Introduction to current schools ............12 East Central First Nations Education Partnership Board Meeting: The interim board of directors of the Partnership meets on a regular basis, and often chiefs and other individuals are invited to attend. For further information .........................12 ...Continued from previous page During this time, Indigenous Interim Board Member and Services Canada was funding proposals that were exploring Principal Abraham Amponsah a new way to fund Education has been a senior education of First Nation children in their communities.” administrator at First Nations “Mr. Greyeyes and myself for many years, and says of collaborated together as a team, the Partnership “Let’s move and we each had our specific areas we worked in,” said Mr. Constant. forward with the Partnership” “Eventually in tandem with a consultant, a proposal was submitted to Indigenous Abraham Amponsah, is one of Cumberland Services Canada early in 2017,” explained Mr. House Cree Nation’s Interim Board members Constant. “While the proposal was in Ottawa, of the East Central First Nations Education Mr. Greyeyes was diagnosed with lung cancer, Partnership. He is also the principal of the and he passed away in late September. In Nistro Awasisak Memorial School and has August due to the illness of Mr. Greyeyes, I been a senior administrator in First Nation schools for more 25 years. Mr. Amponsah was appointed to continue moving forward Faye Head from the James Smith Cree Nation is the with the Partnership,” said Mr. Constant. interim Secretary-treasurer of the East Central First was appointed to the Interim Board by the Nations Education Partnership Interim Board. Cumberland House Chief and Council. Since he became the Interim President, Mr. Born in Aburi, which is about 45 kilometres Constant says he has been focused on learning Presently Ms. Head works in the James Smith northeast of Accra in the African Country about education systems. He has come to Cree Nation Administration Office on the of Ghana, Mr. Amponsah was raised by view the Partnership as both a challenge James Smith Cree Nation. Eventually she his grandparents while his parents lived in and a tremendous opportunity for the three says the Partnership will have its own offices, London, England. He attended the Aburi First Nations to move forward, as all five of probably in Nipawin. the other interim board members want to Kemp Elementary School and then moved consider the needs of the communities first Ms. Head is a member of the Peter Chapman to London. In London he went to Hendon and foremost. Band. She was raised on the James Smith Comprehensive School in northwest London, Cree Nation, attending Bernard Constant completing Grades 9 through 12. Presently, the board is in the process of Community School and graduated in 1988 After completing his Grade 12, Mr. reaching out to members and explaining how with a Grade 12. the process will work, along with seeking the Amponsah studied international affairs at views of the parents and the communities. After graduating from Grade 12, Ms. Head the University College in London, where he “We are examining what the transformation enrolled in the Saskatchewan Indian Institute obtained a diploma in international affairs. will mean, and how the new funding of Technologies at the Prince Albert Campus He then enrolled in the London School of arrangements with the Government of Canada attending classes in business administration. Journalism, taking a course in diplomatic will benefit the participating First Nations.” Ms. Head graduated in 1991 with a diploma journalism where he gained a diploma after in business administration. one year. According to Mr. Constant, the board wants to take the time to ensure the system that Ms. Head began her working career in finance After obtaining his journalism diploma, is proposed by the partnership is right in the early 1990s when she was employed by Mr. Amponsah went to work for a famous to meet the goals and aspirations of the the Prince Albert Grand Council. She worked department store in London, Selfridges on communities. “Over the next 18 months at the Prince Albert Grand Council until 2003. Oxford Street. or so the board will be exploring processes After 2003, she worked in finance in the Mr. Amponsah then immigrated to Canada for identifying strengths and weaknesses, private sectors. in 1968 at the age of 32 years-old and listening to the membership and then making settled in Ottawa. He then began work recommendations to the Councils of the Ms. Head and her husband Alvin Sanderson at a graphics firm and enrolled in Carlton three First Nations. We plan to keep the raised four children who are now adults. University, obtaining a bachelor of arts in communities informed as we move along.” Their youngest daughter Brogan graduated from Bernard Constant Community School in political science.