It’s the start of a new era for Northern First Nations communities and the Federal government.
That’s the belief of former Prime Minister Paul Martin, who was a keynote speaker at the Aboriginal Education Symposium in Thunder Bay.
Martin says he knew Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett years ago, before she became a Cabinet Minister.
Martin says Bennett has always been interested in First Nations education and calls her incredibly knowledgeable and sincere in what she wants to do.
He calls this a magic period and notes the relationship between First Nations, the provincial government and the Feds has never been better.
Martin stresses aboriginal leaders will now be able to work with the government on establishing their own education strategy.
Martin says First Nations will be able to develop their own curriculum with real and consistent funding.
He called the Conservative answer to aboriginal education a “triumph of stupidity”.
