Question Period Note: Marten Falls First Nation School

• Indigenous Services Canada provides funding for First Nation education programming and school infrastructure, respecting that First Nations make decisions on education delivery on reserve.
• In 2021-2022, ISC provided $5.2 million to Marten Falls for education program and services, as well as support to four teacherages in the community.

Marten Falls First Nation is a remote, fly-in community on the Albany River. On January 19, 2022, Charlie Angus, MP, Timmins-James Bay tweeted “This is day 105 that children in Marten Falls First Nation have been without school. There are no teachers”.

ISC Ontario regional officials reached out to Chief Achneepineskum and education staff on Friday, January 21, 2022 to assess the situation and determine what support may be required.

Based on Marten Falls nominal roll report, by which the number of students for funding is established, ISC has confirmed that there are 41 students enrolled at the Henry Coaster Memorial School which delivers education for Kindergarten to Grade 8 students. Departmental officials were advised by the community that the school is closed and that students are receiving home learning packages.

In 2021-2022, ISC provided $1.9 million to support instructional services and school operations at the Henry Coaster Memorial School, of a total of $5.2 million for education program and services. There are an additional 45 students identified by the community, at the high school level.

In addition, in 2021-2022, ISC provided just over $202,000 for COVID-19 education funding to ensure that the community has additional education program funding and adequate personal protective equipment.

ISC officials continue to meet and have very productive meetings, sometimes two or three times a week, with the Chief and community leaders to assess and address community needs and to identify actions that need to be taken immediately.

Indigenous Services Canada is working closely with the First Nation education Councilor, the Director of Education, and leadership to get students back into the school, find alternative learning opportunities so that student education is not further interrupted, as well as to get accommodation in place for teachers so they agree to work in Marten Falls. The First Nation Education Director is planning for classes in April that can be delivered through on-the-land learning to build curriculum based on traditions of language, culture, environment and life skills.

Since 2008, Marten Falls First Nation had identified four apartment units along with a common space within the Senior’s Complex to be funded for use as teacherage space, but that space is now occupied by community members and no longer available to house teachers. As a result, in January funding was approved for new modular units to provide accommodation for teachers coming to the community. The winter road to Marten Falls is open for full loads and Matawa Tribal Council are working with the community to ensure that all supplies and components of the modular teacherages are delivered. Recent reports indicate that the 3 modular homes are close and will be delivered this week, in addition to the 90% of building materials for the four-plex already in the community.

The school repairs have been completed and Matawa has confirmed that the heating system at the Henry Coaster Memorial School is functioning and that work continues with the First Nations contractor to address any issues.

Recently, Marten Falls First Nation retained a new acting Director of Education who is actively recruiting teachers to develop remote learning opportunities until accommodations can be made available in the community. Teachers will be able to identify/develop Individual Education Plans for student success, establish assignments/activities with the support of education assistants from the community in the classroom. Marten Falls First Nation also has funding available through the First Nation Inuit Youth Employment Program to assist in the development of education program inventories and administration.

ISC was advised that Starlink units have been delivered and that installation has been completed for just over 60% of the community, and additional installations to support full community connectivity are underway.

As an interim solution, Ontario Region will be providing students from Henry Coaster Memorial School with devices to facilitate remote learning, as well as support to learners on how to use the devices.
On August 24th, Ontario Region met with Marten Falls First Nation to determine status of education programs and services for this school year.

The 3 Modular homes that we funded late last winter are connected to hydro and ready for occupancy.

They have retained and signed contracts with a new Principal and 3 new teachers plus they have contracts with the SK/JK teacher that lives in the community.
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They are hoping to hire one more teacher for grades 7&8, they confirmed this job is already posted and they will be reviewing candidates shortly.

The new 4-plex teacherage is framed and shingled and they hope the contractor will have it completed in the next 8 weeks. They are very committed to completion so teachers who may have to share residences temporarily can be moved to their new units by November.

We have also scheduled follow up meetings in Oct/Nov at their request to discuss the available funding/surplus funding and to share details for the Regional Education Agreement process.
2022/2023 Elementary/Secondary allocation based on 2021/2022 Nominal Roll:
o Total: $4,742,705.21 broken down as follows:
o Q24F – First Nation School Formula: $2,056,423.60
o Q24K – First Nation School Second Level: $107,406.01
o Q2EG – Provincial School Tuition: $440,711.19
o Q2EI – Private School Tuition: $475,019.38
o Q2EK – Provincial School Accommodation: $1,345,625.85
o Q2EO – Provincial/Private Admin Second Level: $88,322.54
o Q2EP – Prov/Private Student Support: $37,747.19
o Q28N – First Nation School Targeted HCSE: $90,093.86
o Q28P – Provincial School Targeted HCSE: $101,355.59
2021/2022 Nominal Roll:
o First Nation School: 40 FTE
o Provincial/Private School: 45 FTE
o Total 21/22 NR: 85 FTE

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