Today, Minister Hancock, along with his ministerial colleagues Doug Horner (Advanced Education and Technology) and Gene Zwozdesky (Aboriginal Relations) signed an agreement with five First Nations and Métis leaders to establish an Education Partnership Council to guide the future of Aboriginal education in Alberta.

The Council will provide a forum to address shortcomings and roadblocks in the delivery of education to Alberta's Aboriginal peoples. Its membership includes the three ministers; the Grand Chiefs of Treaties 6, 7 and 8; and the Presidents of the Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Settlements General Council. Eight community members with a background in education form the other half of the council.

Thomas Erasmus, one of the eight community members on the council, said "I do have to hand it to (Minister Hancock) for taking and running with this. Finally, we do get a minister that sees the value of us having a more in-depth conversation about aboriginal children's education."

For more information, see the Alberta Education news release "Province collaborates with First Nations, Métis and Inuit in creating Education Partnership Council". The Edmonton Journal also covered the announcement in an article called "Alberta, aboriginal groups to tackle education gaps".