Well, if they still haven't integrated into our school system, then the solution lies with the natives.

Send everyone back to the reserves? Or, native only schools, native only teachers and administrators. What is the solution?

Far be it for me or any other white person to suggest a solution. I can't make anyone else happy. Can't be done. Got to be happy with yourself first. Chester

"into our school system"?

Kind of a narrow view of today`s society isn`t it?

I don`t recall the school system that my grandkids are in to be anything like the one I went through. In them thar days, we warehoused some of our population. Thank god our school system(society) has evolved.

I only hope it continues to evolve for the benefit of all, not just the majority.

Chester, it sounds obvious to me that the school system did fail you. You sound oblivious to any type of common sense or decency. When you say integrate, don't you mean assimilate something you "white" people have tried and almost succeeded. As a proud and well educated "indian" we are not going any where, so get use to it or go back to what ever hole you dug yourself out of. Natives have every right to create ways to better our society. People like you who have "no solution" should not be announcing the fact that you don't care about anyone but yourself!

Okay .... now I am getting rather confused.

We appear to have two school Boards ... them and us ... the "them" and "us" depending on which "them" and "us" one belongs to.

It says: "Chair of the Aboriginal Education Board, Marlene Erickson" I did not realize we had two school Boards working within what appears to be one system. Or is each Board responsible for different schools and different staff?

http://www.sd57.bc.ca/SSS/Aboriginal

I find it interesting in reading the above that so much emphasis is put on attendance of that Board, while I cannot find the same consideration for the Board of Education. I also have been unable to find the exact relationship between the tow Boards. Is there a “partnership” agreement in place?

Reminds me of Apartheid ……

Is this the best we can do?

Ok... now I am also confused!
Why DO we have two school boards?
Why do the native kids have to be treated differently?
I always thought that we are all just people with most of the same wants,needs and dislikes.
Is the Aboriginal School Board saying that natives kids have special needs the conventional school system doesn't provide?
What are they?
Don't they learn the same as any other kids?
And if not,why not?
And about the racism comment by Marlene Erickson...I have personally seen racism directed from white to native kids and native to white kids many times, so perhaps it goes both ways?
Who do we blame and who do we bless here?
How the hell are we ever to get past these kinds of issues if we treat certian factions of society as different from everybody else??
Isn't that what causes racism in the first place?
What are these special "needs" that white kids do not have?
Education should be the same standard for everyone,not different simply because some are of native background.
Seems to me the problem may very well be issues on both sides,but how does a person go out into society and the world in general with a different education than everyone else?
Education has to have a certian across the board standard if it is to be of any use to anyone I would think.
Excuse me,but it seems something is missing here!

"..Less than half of the aboriginal parents surveyed are satisfied with the quality of education their children are receiving.."

That's hilarious. Looks like the indians expect to be given an education, maybe some one should mention it is up to them to learn and get an education, because no one else can do it for them. Of course with enough money the indians can hire educated yappy white trash to tell them what to think.

Get an education, no one is going to do it for you. This is one of the things that money can't do.

This is not a new concept. Our school programs already have all native programs that are 100% funded by the ministry. Im sorry but if you cant take 100% advantage of that then your a lost cause and you have no right to critisise a system that is already catering to all of your needs. Your education is a direct reflection of how much work and effort you put into it regarless of what race you are!!

I THINK OUR SYSTEM HAS BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL. IT'S TIME THE NATIVES TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRRIOR AND DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO...RIDE HORSES AND CHEW MOOSE HIDE OR INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE SYSTEM. IT MAY NOT BE PERFECT BUT IT'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD. STOP COMPLAINING...DO SOMETHING POSITIVE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TEAR THE SYSTEM APART AND ALTER IT TO SUIT YOU.

There are not two separate boards and systems. The Aboriginal Education Board consists of elected representatives of the aboriginal community. It deals with matters affecting aboriginal students throughout SD57. Legally, it is merely an advisory body. On many issues, all it does is advise, largely by liasing with the Aboriginal Education Coordinator, Ben Berland, who is a school district employee. The AEB also controls the use of targeted aboriginal education funds, but this power is delegated by the school board. (The regulations require that the school district "consult" with the aboriginal community on the use of these funds but the legal power remains with the school district.) These are provincial funds, so much for each aboriginal student enrolled on September 30th, that may be used either for aboriginal culture and language programs or for support services such as home/school coordinators.

As an Aboriginal person, it saddens me to here so many comments regarding Marlene Erickson and her passion to help the aboriginal population. I know first hand what it is like to be Aboriginal in a Caucasian world. Fortunately, I was lucky enough that my parents were able to avoid the residential syndrome. Even so things were never easy for me, for many years I felt as though I have been stuck in limbo. Somewhere between missing out on my aboriginal culture and trying to make my way in a Caucasian society. In this society you are either an activist fighting for the aboriginal rights or just another drunken Indian soaking up tax payers’ money. Even though, my childhood was much different from many other aboriginal children who have, and are still, suffering from the effects of residential schools I have experienced the pain of estrangement. School was never easy for me; I struggled because I learn more from watching and listening than from interacting and talking. Many of my teachers assumed I was not interested in school or learning because I was the quiet native girl who never spoke up or was able to easily verbalize my thoughts. I managed to achieve a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Not because I am special, but because I am lucky and I have an inherent to help people. Something inside me said if I can do it anyone can. I want people, especially Aboriginal people, to know that they can achieve anything they put their mind to. I am not going to lie it will be a struggle, on one hand you will feel the great gift of being a well educated aboriginal person that many will look up to, but on the other hand you will be the aboriginal person that some people will look at as “wow” you are aboriginal and you actually did something with your life. You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. We need more people like Marlene Erickson who are willing to speak up and make a difference in our community, no matter what your race is. The government needs to know everyone concerns regarding our children’s education. For people who believe that the aboriginal community is soaking up the system and there is no difference between being of aboriginal descent and being Caucasian I urge you all to visit the residential school exhibit. We all need a better understanding of why things are the way they are, for only then will we be able to move into a healthy way of life that helps our entire community.

BOO HOO !! I AM NOT INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL EXHIBIT. THAT WAS A SAD AND TRAGIC TIME IN HISTORY, BETTER TO BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT. THINK POSITIVE AND DON'T LIVE IN THE PAST. QUIT DRAGGING UP THE PAST,TRYING TO BLAME THE WHITEMAN FOR YOUR PROBLEMS.THERE PROBABLY ISN'T A WHITEMAN OUT THERE IS PROUD OF THOSE TIMES BUT THEY ARE FINISHED....GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON.

Some educational programs geared exclusively for Native students:
Concept Ed
Integrated Resources for Aboriginal Youth
Power of Friendship Aboriginal Headstart Program.
Start Program.
Wazdidadilh Aboriginal Infant and Family Development Program.
Aboriginal Mentoring.
Aboriginal Education Worker.
ReStart.
The Magic Bus.
Aboriginal Education Needs Assessment Project.

At what point does the individual take responsibility for their education? It's not something that can be given to a person, all that can be done is help them develop the tools that they'll need to get thier education. That's the (supposed) goal of the agencies above. Do we need more taxpayer funded programs that aren't meeting their objectives?

Why do I really need an education if the big white father in Ottawa will continue to look after my every need from my cradle to my grave?
Where's the incentive?

The residential schools probably did more good than bad. It is getting so long ago it's a wonder anyone is still ragging on this issue. I guess because it pays to.

Given a guess I'd say there were more Japs unfairly treated at the start of the WWII. I don't see many Japs on George Street or whining about needing money because their gran dad was mistreated.

Japs .... eh?

What other names do you call people who are different than you?

This site is getting worse by the day with the amount of hate people spout off!!!

Lejac Residential School closed in 1976, 31 years ago. That means that anyone 36 or older might have spent time there. That includes the parents and grandparents of children currently in school. Do you think that the inferior education that they received at Lejac, and the negative attitudes toward school that many of them acquired, do not affect their children and grandchildren?

Furthermore, by interfering with normal family life and inculcating in the children the belief that their language and culture are inferior, if not satanic, residential schools severely damaged normal family life. The destruction of the aboriginal economy contributed further. The dysfunction seen in all too many aboriginal families is due in considerable part to residential school. It in turn makes life, including education, hard for the children.

Residential schools had long term effects on the generations following those who actually attended them.

"Given a guess I'd say there were more Japs unfairly treated at the start of the WWII. I don't see many Japs on George Street or whining about needing money because their gran dad was mistreated."

This has to be the stupidest argument I've encountered in a long time. First, the small number of Japanese-Canadians on George Street is readily accounted for by the very small number of Japanese-Canadians in northern BC. Second, the nature and duration of the mistreatment of the Japanese was quite different from that of native people. Japanese children were not separated from their families for most of the year and sent to schools at which they were taught that their language and culture were inferior and where they were physically and sexually abused.

Lurse - Please accept my apology. You have misunderstood my comments. "Our school system is the only one we have", for you and me.

I do mean integrate, not assimilate. People from diverse cultures must find ways to integrate into the one school system we have. Our existing system makes every attempt to cater to every culture, every religion and every nationality.

Canada is made up of a Mosaic of every race on earth. And we do live together rather well over all, while maintaining our heritages and our cultures.

It's really the diversity that we all must embrace while trying to be unified in a system that attempts to cater to everyone.

I am just as frustrated as you are that it's still not working as it should. I am only suggesting that the solution possibly lies with the natives, and not non-natives.
Chester

Japs??Indians??/ Most of you that have posted here on this topic are a bunch of racist biggots!!!!
Runner, Owl, lurse...you guys are ok but shame on the rest of you. I do believe some of you must wear white sheets.You are an embarrasement to this community.

It appears that Hedy Fry knew what she was talking about after all ...

Congrats Lurse on your Nursing degree, an awesome achievement, i know what kind of effort is required to get there. Perhaps there is too much overemphasis on this school right now. I agree that the natives generally have the same educational access as everyone else, but perhaps in the more remote and rural areas this may be not as up to par. On another note, parenting skills and therefore a lack of such is also another problem. Todays children, be it non-native or native are being neglected and their education is faltering because of it. Now don't bark yet. This is not all children, but how many children spend their time playing XBOX, chatting on the net, etc,etc. Our children hardly can or will speak proper english, live on junk food, know nothing about the real world. How can they be learning valuable life lessons or social skills stuck mostly in a 10X8 room or less. Don't see many kids outside in my neighbourhood, and every house has them. Prison? So yes, the major problem is poor parenting, wait till these kids become parents. As for the ReZ school issue, maybe the healing will take longer, the help is there, use it, help the community.

The report is now available on the School District web site: http://www.sd57.bc.ca/DistInfo/Updates/2007%20Malatest%20report/Malatest%20TOC.php

Actually Owl,Hedy Fry NEVER knows what she is talking about!
:-)