Philpott faces skepticism about needed school from members of Ontario reserve

The minister pressed on with her remarks, noting the Liberal government is committed to improving education for Indigenous students.

She also faced children holding up signs up with messages written in marker such as “We must feel safe” and “I want my little brothers to have a proper school to go to please.”

“I tell you children today that I am going to work with you and with your chief and councillors to make sure you have the very best possible school to go to,” Philpott said. “I know we have temporary arrangements for this year.”

Philpott’s office says the government is prepared to build a modular school — which might later be moved — as part of the community’s request, an improvement over existing portables that mean students must endure frigid temperatures when moving between them.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, who attended the Parliament Hill rally, said the heckling of the minister reflects a greater concern about Ottawa’s level of action on some of its promises to Indigenous Peoples.

The community has waited a long time for a school, he added.

“I know there are some challenges with Kashechewan because they’re actually physically moving the entire community from flood-prone land to some place that’s dry,” Bellegarde said in an interview.

“There’s some challenges there so I think people are just demonstrating their frustration.”

NDP MP Charlie Angus, who represents the riding encompassing Kashechewan, said that the 11 portables currently used for schooling in the community look like they belong in a prison camp.

He raised the issue in question period on Monday, telling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Kashechewan students will “tell him that positive words isn’t going to build them a school.”

“It takes political will,” Angus said.

“In their short life, they have seen endless broken promises from government. So now we have the promise of another Band-Aid.”

Trudeau replied to Angus by saying the “road to reconciliation” with Indigenous Peoples is a long one but there are immediate steps the federal government can and must take.

—Follow @kkirkup on Twitter

Kristy Kirkup, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Philpott faces skepticism about needed school from members of Ontario reserve

What's Trending