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The GNWT and the Dene Nation signed an Education Partnership Declaration during the Dene Assembly this month in Fort Providence. The document was signed by, from left, Chief Richard Kochon of Colville Lake; Chief Alfonz Nitsiza of Whati; Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty; Chief Ed Sangris of Dettah; Chief Danny Greenland of Aklavik; National Chief Bill Erasmus of the Dene Nation; and Grand Chief Sam Gargan of the Dehcho First Nations. - photo courtesy of the GNWT

DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Aboriginal leaders in the NWT are supporting the Education Partnership Declaration, a GNWT initiative to close the academic-success gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students.

The declaration was spearheaded by Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jackson Lafferty.

At the Dene Assembly this month in Fort Providence, the document was signed by Lafferty, Dene Nation National Chief Bill Erasmus and a number of other chiefs.

Lafferty said those who signed the declaration believe education is the way forward to a healthy future.

"I want to thank the chiefs for their vision and leadership and for the strength and unity they have showed," he stated in a government press release.

Erasmus added, the declaration is significant.

"This initiative is very important as it demonstrates our commitment towards education and the improvement of our lives in the North," he stated. "We encourage everyone to support it and make it real."

The declaration sets out the guiding principles that aboriginal governments and education leaders agreed to at a series of regional consultations on aboriginal student achievement.

At one of those meetings on the Hay River Reserve in April, it was noted that 44 per cent of aboriginal students graduate high school, compared to 70 per cent of non-aboriginal students.

The declaration states the Dene leadership and the GNWT both have roles and responsibilities to eliminate the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal educational achievement.

The signatories agree to work together and support each others' work to provide quality education at the territorial, regional and community levels.

Finally, the document states the priorities in seeking to eliminate the education gap are early childhood and childcare, student and family support, literacy, and aboriginal language and culture curriculum, and resource development.

The Education Partnership Declaration will be tabled in the legislative assembly in August, along with Lafferty's aboriginal student achievement education plan.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, and the chairs of education authorities and Aurora College will also sign the declaration in coming weeks.

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