Education
Funding Policy

A New Path Forward for First Nation Learners

The federal government currently uses a “funding parity” model for First Nation education. That means it matches per-student spending with provincial systems — such as Ontario’s Core Education Funding (previously Grants for Student Needs). It’s not enough. Not even close. Provinces have full ministries that have been investing in curriculum, infrastructure and support services for decades. Meanwhile, First Nations are trying to recover from more than 150 years of disruptive and devastating federal education policy like Canada’s residential school system, and they lack those foundational resources. Parity ignores the need for catch-up funding to build robust, culturally grounded education systems with their own governance, programs and facilities. Without this, true self-determination in education remains out of reach.

FNWSC Education Funding Model:
Funding Parity Plus

girl in orange safety vest crouches over a craft that shows she's matching leaves to the colour wheel.
Land-based learning is standard at Wikwemkong Board of Education

We’ve developed a First Nation-led funding model to meet unique needs and priorities of each community. It’s a Funding Parity “Plus” model because it outlines foundational service areas, where First Nation systems require more than funding parity with provincial systems to achieve equitable education for learners.

Our model includes resources to build local curriculum, land-based, language-based and culture-based programming and adequate infrastructure. It’s fully aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations.  

While we wait for the federal government to come to a negotiation table, FNWSC nations are building funding frameworks to guide future First Nation education policies that look through four lenses:

  • Redress
  • System gaps
  • Core funding
  • Investment