BCTF Employment Equity for

Aboriginal Teachers

British Columbia Teachers’ Federation

Basic facts• There are 57,753 Aboriginal

students in BC.• This represents 10% of the

student population.• We have 200 self-identified

Aboriginal teachers.• This represents 0.59% of the

teaching population.• To reach equity, we need

3,218 more Aboriginal teachers in BC public schools.

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Summary of graduation ratesfor 2001–02 through 2005–06

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Having Aboriginalteachers in schools:

• helps students see role models• helps infuse the system with a culture

more responsive to the needs of Aboriginal children

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Employment equityis part of the solution

Suicide

Aboriginal youth suicides 108/100,000

Average youth suicide rate across Canada is 18/100,000

Rate for Aboriginal youth is six times higher

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Children in care

1 of 7 Aboriginal children, aged 6-18 years have been incare as compared to

1 of 50 non-Aboriginal children

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Residential schools1946— the United Nations stated that residential

schools were a form of genocide

1983— the last residential school in BC closed

2008— every Aboriginal child has beenimpacted by their history

Image E-03012 courtesy of Royal BC Museum, BC Archives

Facilitating change through language

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The parties recognize that Aboriginal employees are under-represented in the public education system. The parties are committed to redress the under representation of Aboriginal employees and therefore further agree that:•They will encourage the employer and the local to make application to the Human Rights Tribunal under section 42 of the Human Rights Code to obtain approval for a “special program” that would serve to attract and retain Aboriginal teachers.•The parties will assist the employer and the local as requested in the application for and implementation of a “special program” consistent with this Letter of Commitment.

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Key elements of the planadopted by the Federation

• Local committee to oversee the employment equity plan implementation

• Joint application with school district to Human Rights Tribunal

• BCTF grant

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What is an employment equity program?

It is a program . . . that has as its objective the amelioration, or improvement, of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups. It is a special program that aims to promote effective equality and eliminate discrimination.

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Taken from www.bchrt.bc.ca/policies/special_programs_policy.htm

Two types of Human Rights exemptions

The human rights exemptions we are seeking aim to achieve a workforce that is representative of the diversity in the general population.

The intent of the Letter of Understanding is to apply employment equity practices to all positions for the district.

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“[In] order to achieve equity in education the under-representation and role of Aboriginal teachers and support staff in the public education system must be addressed. For one, employment equity and diversity…is crucial to inclusive education and the corresponding issue of power sharing.”

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“Second, Aboriginal teachers and support staff can serve as role models for Aboriginal students, provide cultural resources for the school culture as well as validate difference for all students.”

—(BC Human Rights Commission Report,May 2001, p. 34)

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Aboriginal teachers teachingall children will make a difference.

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