cnews.canoe.ca
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February 25, 2005
Innu parents protest education system
SHESHATSHIU, Nfld. (CP) - Innu parents padlocked the doors of the school in this Labrador community Friday, saying the provincial education system is failing their children.
The parents say they won't take the locks off until the province promises to improve the dismal educational record of Labrador Innu.
"They closed the school down," said Chief Anastasia Qupee, noting that the locks went on before children showed up for school.
"It's reached a point of frustration and parents are speaking out and they want change."
Sheshatshiu is one of two Innu communities in Labrador. Very few Innu have graduated from high school and the dropout rate remains extremely high.
Since 1993, just 17 Innu students have graduated high school.
Although there are about 500 children registered at the Peenamin McKenzie school, attendance is far less than that.
Several reports and studies have noted that illiteracy is a barrier to improving conditions for the Innu in both Sheshatshiu and Natuashish.
Qupee said the band council supports the actions of parents.
"They want their kids to succeed just like any other kids in the province and right now that's not happening," she said.
"They know their kids are smart."
Two years ago Sheshatshiu parents removed their children from school over the state of the building.
Improvements were made but a recent report on the state of education among the Innu raised concerns.
The study by Dr. David Philpott of Memorial University of St. John's found that 35 per cent of Innu children never attend school.
"Education in the communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish have had many difficulties from low attendance, fetal alcohol syndrome to few graduates," Philpott told the university newspaper earlier this month.
At least 35 per cent of children studied had learning disabilities attributable to fetal alcohol syndrome.
Philpott also tested 15-year-old Innu and found they were at least five years behind on their math and reading levels when compared with non-Innu students.
"Innu kids are being taught the exact same curriculum as any other child in the Atlantic Provinces with no appreciation of the context, for the history of Innu or the strength of Innu culture, the values of Innu culture," Philpott said.
He did not make specific recommendations but called for change.
Qupee said the first step is to involve the local communities in the education system.
Nobody from the education minister's office was available for comment Friday evening.
Qupee said the province would not speak to parents or the band until the school is reopened. |
