MARTIN ABORIGINAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE (MAEI)

The Facts
According to the 2006 Canada census, there were more than one million Aboriginal people in Canada. The Aboriginal population is growing much more rapidly than the non-Aboriginal population.  

When compared to non-Aboriginal Canadians, Aboriginal Canadians have a lower education level as well as lower standard of living. Specifically,

• High school drop-out rate: 60% of Aboriginal students on-reserve and 43% of Aboriginal students off-reserve have dropped out of high school, compared to 9.5% of non-Aboriginal Canadians
• University degrees: 7% of First Nations, 9% of Métis and 4% of Inuit people have a university degree compared to 23% of non-Aboriginal Canadians
• Incarceration: in 2007/2008, Aboriginal adults accounted for 22% of prison admissions although they represent only 3% of the Canadian population
• Homicides: 17% of victims of homicide and 23% of those accused of committing a homicide between 1997 and 2004 were Aboriginals

Education is critical to improving the social and economic strength of Aboriginal people to a level enjoyed by other Canadians.

Background
The Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative (MAEI) was established in 2008 in order to initiate a variety of educational projects designed to provide Aboriginal Canadians with the opportunities they need to succeed. MAEI brings together Aboriginal organizations, the business community, post-secondary institutions, First Nation schools and provincially-funded school boards to implement programs to support Aboriginal students. Our goal is to support initiatives that improve education at the elementary and secondary school levels for Aboriginal Canadians.

MAEI believes that the development of knowledge and skills will provide Aboriginal youth with an incentive to continue their education.

Projects are chosen in discussion with the pertinent Aboriginal leadership, provincial and territorial education authorities, and local business communities.