The Opaskwayak Educational Authority (OEA) Inc. is trying to raise the bar for aboriginal education in the province of Manitoba by moving towards a consistent, safe learning environment for students.

James Wilson, director of education with OEA, says that education on reserves in Canada is stuck in a “jurisdictional grey zone” between the Indian Act and the provincial Public School Acts.

“This leaves us with no external accountability, no enforced standards, less funding and less opportunities,” he explains. The jurisdictional grey zone Wilson described means that per student funding levels for on-reserve schools are 20 to 30 per cent below provincial levels, with teachers earning approximately 20 per cent less than their provincial counterparts, even though their pupil ratios are higher than at off-reserve schools.

Despite this, Wilson says that Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) has moved forward to meet the education needs of its students. The number of teaching days per year has been increased – nine above the provincial standards. The number of instructional minutes per week has also been increased to 100 minutes above the provincial standard. Best practices from schools all across North America have also been put in place, Wilson says.

“Our results have been very positive, as demonstrated by our high school success rates, school assessment results, award winning land based education program and growing community and parental support for our programs,” he further explains.

The Joe. A. Ross High School, which is on OCN, has a success rate of 69 per cent, which is moving closer to the provincial average of 79 per cent. The school also takes part in a Rwanda orphanage program, in which students won a human rights award; a Cree immersion program, a Saskatchewan River science expedition and more.