Local First Nations want seat at SD57’s Board of Education table

Sep 29, 2020 | 1:57 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—Chiefs of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and Lheidli T’enneh Nation are asking School District 57’s Board of Education to allow for the appointment of two Indigenous trustees.

The call by McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief Harley Chingee, and Lheidli T’enneh Nation Chief Dayi Clay Pountney came after both communities sent a letter to SD57’s Board of Education.

“Our students for too long have been second-class citizens in the public school system. We have gone from being wards of the state to being wards of the school system.”—Harley Chingee, Chief, McLeod Lake Indian Band

“Governments respond by sending more money for Indigenous students to school districts and we have no idea how those funds are being spent,” added Chief Chingee.

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Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dayi Clay Pountney adds that “the only way our communities can ensure that our students and other Indigenous students are receiving the support they deserve is for communities to have a trustee making decisions at the Board of Education table.” Chief Dayi Pountney also adding that they “need and deserve a seat at the decision-making table,” and ask that the Board answer their call.

Both Chiefs say that the appointment of a McLeod Lake Indian Band and Lheidli T’enneh Nation Trustee is their communities’ number one education priority.

by Veronica Beltran

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Local First Nations want seat at SD57’s Board of Education table

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