List of band-operated schools in Manitoba


There are many band-operated schools in Manitoba. These are schools funded at the federal level by the Government of Canada but managed by one or more of the First Nations band governments. In accordance with the treaty arrangements between the federal government and most individual First Nations, band-operated schools must be administered by locally elected School boards, and operate outside the direct control of the local chief and band council.
While there is no legislative requirement that band-operated schools follow provincial curricula, or adhere to the Manitoba Public Schools Act or the Manitoba Education Administration Act, most of them do operate very similarly to provincial schools. The more closely a federal school follows provincial curricula, the more readily its students can transfer into the provincial system. Graduation from First Nation high schools that retain accreditation is recognized by post-secondary institutions.
In First Nation schools, provincial professional organizations such as the Manitoba Teachers' Society are noticeably absent. Of the fifty-one First Nations communities that operate federal schools, only two have teachers who are members of the provincial union, while all other public school teachers are automatically members under the Public Schools Act and Education Administration Act. The exceptions are members of the Nelson House Teachers' Association in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and the Sandy Bay Teachers' Association in Sandy Bay Ojibwa First Nation. The members of these two bargaining units are not entitled to the MTS pension and disability benefits plans, as no legislation exists that would allow them to participate.

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