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MINISTER NAULT, FIRST NATION EDUCATION LEADERS CELEBRATE PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL STUDENT SUCCESS

SIOUX LOOKOUT, ONTARIO (November 26, 2003) - Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (INAC), the Honourable Robert D. Nault, is pleased to congratulate the Sioux Lookout District Education Planning Committee (DEPC) for its success in developing partnerships to improve the lives of First Nation students across the region, especially in the area of special education.

Speaking at a meeting of the Sioux Lookout area Chiefs, Minister Nault said the Government of Canada is pleased to continue working in partnership with the DEPC to help foster excellence in First Nation education. "As recommended by the National Working Group on Education, this is an excellent example of First Nations working together, in partnership with INAC, to develop a quality education system for First Nation students and providing them with opportunities to enjoy the same quality of life that other Canadian children enjoy."

INAC has approved $312,000 - $240,000 to allow DEPC to fund a special education needs assessment in each of the 24 schools supported by the DEPC, and $72,000 to allow DEPC to develop a special education policy for each of these schools. This initiative is year one of a proposed five-year special education program, developed by DEPC.

More details can be found in the attached Backgrounder, "District Education Planning Committee Special Education".

"We are pleased with INAC's support for this initiative," said DEPC Chairman Saul Williams. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the department, as well as to developing future partnerships with Human Resources Development Canada, and Health Canada in order to provide our children with the opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing First Nation members of society," he said.

In keeping with the Speech from the Throne and the 2003 Budget, the Government of Canada will continue to work to improve the educational outcomes of First Nation students and to assist in addressing the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. In
2003-2004, the Government of Canada will spend $1.127 billion for the provision of education services to approximately 120,000 First Nation children living on reserves across Canada.

For further information, please contact:

Susan Bertrand, Senior Information Officer
INAC Communications
(807) 624-1531

Ifka Filipovich, Project Co-ordinator
Kwayaciiwin Resource Centre
(807) 737-7373 ext. 31

Backgrounder - District Education Planning Committee Special Education

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