BRIEFING NOTE

TO THE CHIEFS COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

DATE: October 20, 2016

REQUESTED BY: Paulette Tremblay
SUBJECT: CCOE approval on revised Terms of Reference Version 16

PURPOSE:
To provide an update and seek approval from the Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) on Version 16 of the
revised Terms of Reference between CCOE and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in regards to the
development of new funding mechanisms for First Nations elementary and secondary education.

CURRENT STATUS:
On October 20, 2016, AFN and NIEC met with INAC officials to come to agreement on a revised Terms of
Reference (Version 16) which is attached for review and approval by the CCOE.
In order to move quickly with this process, AFN Education is asking that the CCOE review the new Terms
of Reference (Version 16) and provide their approval electronically by October 27th, 2016. An email can
be sent to the AFN Education Team through Suzanne Campeau at scampeau@afn.ca.
If the CCOE requires further discussion on Version 16 of the Terms of Reference, AFN will organize a
CCOE conference call as soon as possible to address any questions or concerns.

KEY ISSUES/FACTS:
The AFN, CCOE and NIEC have been working with INAC since June 2016 to develop a Terms of Reference
that would outline a collaborative and honourable process in regards to funding mechanisms for First
Nations elementary and secondary education.
The Terms of Reference was in response to direction from Chiefs-in-Assembly as outlined in AFN
Resolution 35/2014, A Federal Act for Funding First Nation Education and 16/2016, Honourable
Process to develop recommendations to support First Nations Education Reform, which called for the
development of an honourable process between First Nations and the federal government to achieve
statutory funding.
On September 22-23, 2016, the CCOE, NIEC and AFN met with INAC officials to discuss concerns over
Version 12 of the Terms of Reference from July 11th, 2016. On September 23, 2016, the CCOE, NIEC, and
AFN drafted Version 13 of the Terms of Reference. Version 13 was then forwarded to INAC for feedback.
Direction was provided by the CCOE for the NIEC and AFN to work collaboratively with INAC to finalize
the Terms of Reference by October 23, 2016.
On October 3rd, INAC forwarded Version 15 of the Terms of Reference with suggested edits. Version 15
was then sent to the NIEC for review and the CCOE. NIEC and AFN Education staff were very concerned
with the edits and met on October 19th to discuss a strategy for finalizing a Terms of Reference with
INAC.
On October 20, 2016, AFN and NIEC met with INAC officials to express their concern with the revisions
and to find a way to revise and reach an agreement and finalize the Terms of Reference. By the end of
the day all parties agreed on Version 16 of the Terms of Reference which is attached for review and
approval of the CCOE.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. NIEC recommends that CCOE approves Version 16 of the revised Terms of Reference by responding to
the AFN Education Team by October 27, 2016.

ATTACHMENTS:
1. Version 16 - TRACK CHANGED VERSION: First Nations Government of Canada, Terms of Reference for
Joint Collaboration between the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE)
and Canada as represented by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to develop new funding
mechanisms for First Nations Education that support First Nations development of a holistic, culturally-
responsive, high-quality education for First Nation students (2016-2018) VERSION 16 Oct 20, 2016
2. Version 16 - CLEAN VERSION: First Nations Government of Canada, Terms of Reference for Joint
Collaboration between the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) and
Canada as represented by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to develop new funding
mechanisms for First Nations Education that support First Nations development of a holistic, culturally-
responsive, high-quality education for First Nation students (2016-2018) VERSION 16 Oct 20, 2016

PREPARED BY: Jarrett Laughlin

LAST REVISED DATE/TIME: October 20, 2016