What is the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement?

The Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement (ANEA) is a self-government agreement between Canada and 23 Anishinabek First Nations that recognizes First Nation control over Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education on and off-reserve.

The ANEA with Canada will provide reliable funding to operate the stand-alone Anishinabek Education System (AES), a system parallel to its provincial counterparts, where Participating First Nations (PFNs) have full control over how to best allocate education funding. The funding will also allow for the delivery of educational programs and services.

The ANEA is the first of its kind in Ontario and it is the largest education self-government agreement in Canada due to the number of First Nations involved. The ANEA supports the Anishinabek Nation’s vision of a quality AES that promotes  Anishinaabe culture and language and improves education outcomes for Anishinabek students.

After the ANEA takes effect, certain provisions of the Indian Act that deal with education will no longer apply to the 23 PFNs. The decision-making power over education will rest in the hands of the First Nations under the AES.

The ANEA sets out a process for other Anishinabek Nation First Nations and other First Nations in Ontario to join the AES in the future should they choose to do so.

The Agreement with Ontario

What is the Master Education Agreement?

In moving forward with the ANEA with Canada, the 23 PFNs chose to be a party to the complementary Master Education Agreement(MEA) with Ontario. The provincial agreement creates a new relationship between the Anishinabek First Nations and Ontario that supports Anishinabek student success and well-being in the AES and the provincially-funded education system.

The Master Education Agreement:

• Supports the transition of students between Anishinabek First Nations’ schools and schools in the provincially-funded education system;
• Fosters engagement and participation of students, parents, families and communities to realize the goal of improved student achievement and well-being;
• Enhances collaboration between PFNs, the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB), Ontario and school boards, including data and information sharing; and
• Supports the advancement of Anishinabek language and culture, and the knowledge of Anishinabek First Nations’ histories, perspectives and contributions within Anishinabek First Nations’ schools and provincially-funded schools.

This is an historic education agreement under which the 23 First Nations and the Government of Ontario confirm their commitment to support Anishinabek student well-being and achievement regardless of where the students attend school. The MEA will also support the implementation of the AES.

The ANEA with Canada and the MEA with Ontario were signed by the respective parties at an historic Signing Ceremony on August 16, 2017.