A controversy and political backlash has arisen over the contents of Bill C-33 the so called “First Nations Control over First Nations Education Act” since it was tabled in parliament on April 10, 2014.
A study has revealed that more than half of total faculty positions at publicly funded Canadian universities in 2016-17 were contract jobs. Contract jobs with low pay and no benefits have been replacing tenured positions.
More than two years ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised $2.6 billion in funding for First Nations schools. That funding has yet to arrive, and schools still cannot afford science labs, sports equipment, or Indigenous language programs.
Professor Marie Battiste has been advocating for decades for a more inclusive history for Canadian schools. Due to her hard work, textbooks and curriculu in many provinces are being revised to include a more complete and accurate history of Indigenous people in Canada.
The development of new programs in school which include Indigenous languages has led to an increase in the demand for teachers who are fluent in Indigenous languages.
An Ottawa couple has requested that the federal government require schools to change any Indigenous logos or mascots.