The federal government has reached a deal with First Nations to get its education initiative back on track.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Ahousaht First Nation issued separate statements Thursday night outlining their new agreement.
Previous talks collapsed this fall because First Nations said they were not included as equal partners in designing legislation, and because federal documents suggested that funding was sufficient.
With the new outline, Duncan - the MP for Vancouver Island North - commits to "intensive" consultations and to explore ways to ensure stable and sufficient funding.
Those promises were also made in last spring's budget, but were reiterated in more certain terms on Thursday.
"This meeting provided an opportunity to present our views and this is the right place to start," the AFN's committee on education said in a statement.
Given that fewer than half of First Nations children graduate from high school, both sides were facing criticism for allowing politics to interfere with the future of students.
