A Treaty Right to Education

Abstract

In 1870s, representatives of Crown and First Nations negotiated Treaties 1 to 7. Each included provision for education. This study focuses on intent and expectations of education as a treaty right by original signatories and current divergent understandings. Today First Nations demand fulfilment of their treaty right to education while Canada, despite constitutional authority and recent court decisions on treaties, administers educational services within boundaries of its own legislation: Indian Act. Honouring treaty commitments offers hope for educational opportunities and equity within context of First Nation governance, traditions, and cultural milieu. L'article porte sur les droits des Premieres nations en matiere d'education, tels qu'ils ont ete reconnus par les traites 1 a 7 conclus dans les annees 1870. Les Premieres nations exigent les respect des dispositions des traites dans ce domaine. Mais en d6pit des d6cisions r6centes des tribunaux, le Canada administre les services d'6ducation selon sa Loi sur les Indiens. Le respect des obligations n6es d'un trait6 offre de l'espoir pour l'enseignement et l'6quite dans le contexte de la gouvemance, des traditions et du milieu culturel des Premieres nations. From time of early contact, representatives of First Nations and European sovereigns entered into peace and friendship treaties. In 1752, Grand Chief Cope of and His Excellency Peregrine Thomas Hopson, on behalf of British Sovereign, agreed to articles of peace and friendship outlined in Compact. The Compact or Treaty stipulated the said Indians shall have all favour, Friendship & Protection shewn them from this His Majesty's Government and in exchange agreed to protect his Majesty's subjects from harm and use their utmost Endeavours to bring in other Indians to Renew and Ratify this Peace (as cited in Cummings & Mickenberg, 1970, p. 307). Henderson, Benson, and Findlay (2000) stated Mi'kmaq Compact created boundaries for communities that respected their autonomous political and legal systems. The compact constituted an integrated legal order based on mutual obligations recognizing sharing, autonomy, and freedom of association (p. 137). The early treaties and specifically 1763 Royal Proclamation formed basis of Britain's treating with First Nations1, and although British