New assistant assistant deputy minister of First Nations for Alberta

The Edmonton Journal reports that a new assistant
assistant deputy minister of First Nations, Métis and Inuit education will be established for Alberta Education. The new position is intended to combat the gap in education outcomes for the Aboriginal population.  “One of our biggest challenges is that gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids,” Education Minister Jeff Johnson told the paper’s editorial board. Alberta needs to do a better job of making education relevant and valued in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, Johnson said. “It’s embarrassing and it’s unfortunate, but I think there’s a real legitimate reason for that (gap), and it’s the residential schools. The generation who are parents now, or grandparents, their experience with education was not a good one,” said the minister. “Imagine people showing up and taking your kids out of your community and tying that to education, and what that does to your impression of education.”