Government of Canada: Stop Bill C-33

We the undersigned First Nation citizens and elected leaders, hereby inform the Government of Canada that we reject and oppose Bill C-33, the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act (FNCFNEA). Bill C-33 was introduced on April 17, 2014 and it infringes on our fundamental, inherent and treaty rights to jurisdiction over the education of First Nation students. The control and authority of the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to approve or disapprove any regulations from Bill C-33 is not First Nations control of First Nations Education. First Nations demand equity in education funding and we do not agree that education funding needs to have the approval of the Minister of Indian Affairs or the Governor General of Canada. First Nation language and culture is a First Nation priority, and French and English should be the optional languages for First Nations, not the mandatory languages as Bill C-33 requires. We support First Nation education processes that are developed by First Nation communities for First Nation communities with no government authority over our education.