First Nations Assume K–12 Education in BC

Summary#

This Order — Order Bringing Individual Agreements with First Nations into Effect: SOR/2023-128 — makes three Canada–First Nation education agreements effective under the First Nations Jurisdiction over Education in British Columbia Act. The change took effect on July 1, 2023 and lets those First Nations assume responsibility for K–12 education on their reserves.

What it does#

• Puts into effect Canada’s education jurisdiction agreements with:
  • Canim Lake Band (agreement signed March 10, 2023)
  • Ditidaht First Nation (agreement signed March 30, 2023)
  • Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) (agreement signed March 30, 2023)
• Amends the schedule of the First Nations Jurisdiction over Education in British Columbia Act to add these three First Nations.
• Allows those First Nations to make and run their own laws for primary and secondary education on reserve, including things like local curricula, graduation rules, teacher certification, and school certification.
• Moves the federal education funding for these First Nations so it flows through Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) rather than Indigenous Services Canada, creating a single federal funding channel for their education jurisdiction.
• Provides funding support to help with governance and start-up costs: $8.09 million over 10 years (beginning in FY 2023–2024), including $1,332,034 in FY 2023–2024 and ongoing annual amounts thereafter.

Who's affected#

• Primarily the communities, students, parents and teachers of Canim Lake Band, Ditidaht First Nation, and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
• The First Nations Education Authority, which supports participating First Nations and works on shared certification and standards.
• Federal departments involved in Indigenous education funding and implementation, including Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) and Indigenous Services Canada.
• The Province of British Columbia and local school districts where coordination or reciprocal arrangements are needed.
• Other First Nations already operating similar arrangements (for context, ?aq’am, Seabird Island, Cowichan Tribes, and Lil’wat Nation assumed jurisdiction on July 1, 2022).

Why it matters#

• It hands local control of K–12 education to the three named First Nations. That can let schools teach in ways that reflect local languages, cultures and community priorities.
• The change aims to improve outcomes (graduation, attendance, post‑secondary access) by tailoring education to community needs and by creating local teacher and school certification paths.
• Funding and administrative responsibility shift at the federal level, so these First Nations will have new governance duties and financial arrangements to manage.
• It is a concrete step in implementing Indigenous self-determination in education and aligns with Canada’s broader commitments on Indigenous rights and reconciliation.