Hay River (Dec 08/03) - The South Slave region will also be affected by a directive from the Minister of Education ordering schools to stop collecting annual fees from Treaty rights students.

There are eight schools under the South Slave Divisional Education Council (SSDEC).

According to information from the SSDEC office in Fort Smith, Deninu School in Fort Resolution, PWK High School in Fort Smith and Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River all charge so-called caution fees for textbooks and other learning materials.

That fee -- which averages about $25 per student each school year -- is refunded when the books and materials are returned.

Such fees are not charged at the schools in Lutsel K'e and on the Hay River Reserve; at JBT Elementary School in Fort Smith; Harry Camsell and Princess Alexandra schools in Hay River.

Schools in Hay River charge a $20 activity fee to all students and that is also expected to be affected by the directive, according to a spokesperson for the Hay River District Education Authority. The spokesperson added, students are expected to purchase materials such as pens and notebooks and that may also be affected.

Paul Boucher, the vice-chair of both the SSDEC and the Deninu District Education Authority in Fort Resolution, is pleased the GNWT has clarified the issue.

"I'm ecstatic," he said. "It's some recognition of our Treaty rights, finally."

Boucher -- himself a Treaty rights holder -- said he hopes more people will now understand the spirit and intent of Treaty 8.

"What we're trying to do is protect the Treaty we signed."

There are 1,310 aboriginal students in the South Slave school system out of a total of 1,771 students. However, there is no estimate available on how many students are Treaty rights holders.