Actions and Commitments

Call to Action # 8: Education (6-12)

Nishnawbe Aski Nation Emergency Funding

August 23, 2017

$4.67M from federal government over 3 years plus $5.5M from Ontario for 2017-18 funding in response to First Nations youth safety crisis in Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) territory in Northern Ontario where students must attend high school in Thunder Bay. Some actions being taken as a result of federal investment, in coordination with NAN will include, among others:

Federal Actions

  • Coordinated on call workers programming for students to centralize the best means to respond to and support all NAN community students in Thunder Bay.
  • Increased accommodation rates to match provincial rates and access safe accommodation;
  • Boarding home pilot program so that organizations who know their students can arrange for their housing needs; and
  • An urban-living curriculum to talk about health, safety and succeeding in school away from home. Some actions being taken as a result of provincial investment, in coordination with NAN will include, among others:

Provincial Actions

  • Support for immediate steps to address the safety and wellness of the youth attending school away from their home communities
  • Enhancing existing education options for high school students who wish to continue their education in their communities and providing additional supports for staff and students
  • Ensuring resources are available to accommodate students who wish to continue their education in other urban centres.