There is a shortage of at least 36 teachers across northern Manitoba First Nations forcing some band-operated schools to turn to non-certified teachers and educational assistants to run the classrooms.
Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said the chronic problem is putting generations of First Nations students at a disadvantage.
Cross Lake First Nation, located 500 kilometres north of Winnipeg, began the school year short 10 teachers. Pauingassi First Nation, a fly-in community 300 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, is short four teachers.
Education director Greg Halcrow has been able to hire seven teachers in recent weeks but three positions remain vacant.
Until the jobs are filled, educational assistants and retired substitute teachers are leading the classes.
One of the consequences is that First Nations are not able to offer competitive salaries to attract teachers.
Even with northern allowance, the salaries that are offered are between $15,000 and $20,000 lower than what teachers could make at a public school.
