Get the 2012-2013 report - Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta

1982
Section 35 inserted into the
Constitution Act affirming the
existence of Aboriginal and
Treaty Rights
1985
Bill C-31
1990
Indian Summer
Feb. 11, 1993 MOU between Alberta & Grand Council of T8FN signed
Canada and the First Nations Historical Timeline
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” Chief Sitting Bull
MOU Team
Clayton Kootenay has been working as the MOU Team Lead for Treaty No. 6, 7 & 8 since April 1, 2012. This
position has been housed out of the Treaty 8 First Nation of Alberta sub-office since the inception of the MOU for
First Nations Education.
With the increased workload there was a need to create two new positions to assist in the work on the MOU, the
MOU Support Worker(s) position. Brooks Arcand-Paul was housed out of the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
sub-office and Rob Houle was housed out of the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 office both came on-line in the
spring of 2012. Their main role was to assist the MOU Team Lead and the Treaty No. 6, 7 & 8 Education Directors
on the MOU.
Clayton Kootenay Brooks Arcand-Paul Rob Houle
Progress to Date
The MOU continues to move forward through the Working Group, which represents all parties to the MOU which
include the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations, Treaty 7 Management Corporation, Treaty 8 First Nations
of Alberta, the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada. This group carries out the bulk of the technical
work surrounding the MOU, and is largely complimented through suggestions made from First Nations people.
The Working Group is working tirelessly at providing a structure that will enable First Nations education in Alberta
to address the unique needs of First Nations students in all schools in the province. It will be finalized through the
Long-Term Strategic Plan and will be enabled by elected officials through the First Nations Education Circle. This
process has not been without its problems however, they have been overcome to provide a better opportunity
for the future of our First Nations children in Alberta. A key component of the MOU is also improving relations
between First Nations and Non-First Nations through education.
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