December 11, 2020

Dear First Nations Schools,

Following our December 7th communication about the Ministry of Education’s Q&A document regarding new provincial COVID-19 restrictions and how they apply to K-12 settings, the First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association have developed an adapted version of the Q&A document for First Nations schools.

This document is intended to provide First Nation school administrators with information on the orders and restrictions recently issued by the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and how they may impact First Nations schools in BC. It includes important updates for schools regarding masks, health checks, extra-curricular activities, working from home, and community use of schools, among other topics.

Please continue monitoring the latest directives from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control, and the BC Ministry of Health for the most current information.

FNESC and FNSA fully respect the authority of individual First Nations to make decisions about school operations in the best interests of their students, schools, and communities and that there may be requirements set out for public and non-First Nations independent schools that First Nations may determine do not apply to them. We also recognize that First Nations may have additional requirements and processes beyond what are described in this document. The information within this resource is not legal advice.

For the latest COVID-19 updates and resources, please visit www.fnesc.ca/covid19.

We hope that you are staying health and have a good holiday season ahead.