Prof Says Higher Education Is A Treaty Right

Prof Says Higher Education Is A Treaty Right

Monday, January 29, 2007 at 13:08

A First Nations researcher has recently completed a new study which he says confirms Aboriginal post-secondary is a treaty right that has not been honoured by Ottawa.

Dr. Blair Stonechild is the head of Indigenous Studies at the First Nations University of Canada.

Stonechild says Aboriginal higher education is currently a piecemeal system of programs plagued by chronic underfunding.

He is calling for sweeping policy changes that would see unlimited funding for Native students living on and off reserves.

Stonechild says, regardless of the treaty argument, the idea just makes sense.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs has been studying the issue for the last year, and is due to release its recommendations before the end of the month.