Chief Wayne Desjarlais
Chief Wayne Desjarlais Niigaanii
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Chief Wayne Desjarlais
Ebb and Flow Anishinaabe Nation
Re: Governing Council Update on Sovereign Implementation of Resolutions (06-12-18/08-07-19/09-03-20)
Dear Chief Wayne Desjarlais,
It is an absolute honour to be writing to you as 2021 with all of its challenges gets well underway. As a Nation, our Anishinaabe style of governing continues to guide our collective efforts to improve the quality life for our peoples. We focus here on Life Long Learning.
We remain steady to call on both the Government of Canada and Manitoba to honour the Treaty relationship and come to the political circle (table) with appropriate frameworks to deal with matters and interests. The Anishinaabe political will is strong despite many political impasses. As Ogemaag, we understand that it is in our Anishinaabe constitutional duties to devise, structure, and lead our sovereign and inherent governing way of life.
As you may recall during the December 2020 meeting, some of the Nation-building outcomes identified a Chief lead responsible for each of the Nation’s seven circles. Therefore, here is an overview to you leading the Life Long Learning Circle.
LIFE LONG LEARNING
Life Long Learning for the Anishinaabek means providing education from birth. Resources provided by Canada fail to meet the Anishinaabek Inherent Right to Life Long Learning.
Every Local Nation Member child from Treaty 2 Territory is born with the Inherent Right to their ancestral knowledge, culture, and language. Their rights have not been met in the current Provincial educational system, which focuses primarily on the delivery of mainstream settler education. Research has clearly found that Indigenous student graduation rates dramatically increase when they are immersed in their ancestral identity and language.
K-12 education within the lands of the Local Nations is provided inadequately and inconsistently by Canada for Local Nations’ children and youth. The Local Nations and FNT2T no longer wish to leave the education of its people to other jurisdictions and settler governments.
FNT2T is assisting Local Nations in restoring jurisdiction over education. FNT2T knows that Canada has a duty and responsibility to support the Local Nations and FNT2T in restoring the local and territorial Life Long Learning.
Objectives of Life Long Learning:
- Ancestral Law Development within Treaty 2 Territory
- Control over and creation of school houses
- Implementing Life Long Learning
- Decolonization through FNT2T Lodge
FNT2T Life Long Learning Circle has an overall strategic plan which is:
- Unifying our Local Nation schools through new school system (2014 Mandate)
- Virtual Anishinaabemowin (language) teaching;
- Curriculum development for use by Local Nations and other education institutions, including a treaty learning kit;
- Treaty 2 history book to be used in the schools;
- History teaching – coordination with provincial school divisions and Treaty Commissioner offices;
- Establishing an Anishinaabemowin K-4 school for Local Nation Members in Dauphin;
- Continuing development of FNT2T and Local Nations laws; and
- Seeking funding support for infrastructure of the established FNT2T Lodge.
ACTION: The Local Nations and FNT2T will agree to enter into an Implementation agreement with Canada and other Countries to collaborate and support the objectives of FNT2T’s Life Long Learning Circle.
To conclude, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for the strong and exemplary leadership you continue to demonstrate in this important role in addition to the Chieftainship responsibilities within your Local Nation. Our duties and obligations to serve during these challenging times are to be commended. As we gain momentum, I remain committed to reaching the highest aspirations as the original ancestral government of Mikinaak Minis.
Gichi Miigwech,
Ogichidaa Eugene Eastman
Chief, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi Anishinaabe Nation
- Gaagwekwekijiiwang First Nation
