Yukon NDP calls for more First Nations teachers

Yukon's opposition NDP is pushing the government to increase the number of First Nations educators in the territory's schools.

"Yukon First Nations continue to be under-represented in our classrooms," said MLA Jim Tredger in the legislature on Wednesday. He said the government's staffing protocols are not working.

"The ratio of First Nations to non-First Nations teachers has remained the same for several years now," Tredgersaid.

Tredger said when the territory's original Education Act was being crafted, there was general agreement that the number of First Nations teachers should be proportional to the numberof First Nations people in the territory. That would mean about a quarter of all Yukon teachers would be aboriginal, Tredger said.

Tredger said initial efforts to recruit First Nations teachers were successful, but he fears they've "stagnated".

Education Minister Doug Graham said there's only so much the government can do.He said theYukon Native Teacher Education Program was established at Yukon College to address the issue, but graduates are not always pursuing careers in teaching.

"Unfortunately, we can't force these graduates to come to the education department," Graham said.

"We will continue mentoring, we will continue offering programs, and we'll continue the staffing protocol that provides First Nations people with priority hiring, particularly in our rural schools."

Graham said thegovernment isworking with school councils and the First Nations Education Commissionto attract moreaboriginaleducators toYukon schools.