The First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun has informed the territorial and federal levels of government of its intention to pursue the transfer of education programs in time for the 2006-07 academic year.

In an ultimatum to the territorial and federal governments issued on July 11, the first nation council reaffirmed their intent to transfer the programs. They provided an 18-page draft terms of reference and work plan.

The first nation is looking to establish a new educational framework based on the distinction of its own community, Dudley Morgan, the first nation's acting director of operations, said in a recent interview with the Star.

It's important to look at the future of the community and to create opportunities for Na Cho Nyak Dun youth, he added.

'The short- and long-term attainable goals of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun (NND), in the education program transfer process, are based on the need to protect the cultural and linguistic distinctiveness and social well being of NND children and youth immediately and for future generations to come,' state the terms of reference.

An education program facilitated by the Na Cho Nyak Dun would foster pride, dignity and self-esteem, Morgan said.

The program would use British Columbia curriculum but add Na Cho Nyak Dun content, including language, culture and history.

The first nation has already begun having meetings on the issue. It's conducting a five-day training session to prepare for future negotiations on the transfer of education and taking over the programs and services involved with it.

In the information given to the various levels of government, the council asked to meet with representatives at 1 p.m. today to move forward with discussions.

Morgan declined to comment when contacted Wednesday as to whether the territorial and federal governments had been able to provide representatives for the meeting or how the training session has been going thus far.

It is unclear if the meeting will actually be occurring today.

Lesley McCullough, director of mandate and policy with land claims, said she is not aware of the meeting happening today.

Dermot Flynn, associate chief negotiator for land claims in the territory's executive council office, is the lead negotiator on this case. He is out of town on personal vacation, said McCullough, who added she thought there might be a tentative meeting now scheduled for next week.

The Kwanlin Dun and Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nations have also expressed interest in transferring their education programs, Flynn previously told the Star.

'They've expressed their interest before,' he said. 'It's not a surprise. This is all part of the process.'

Section 17 of the Na Cho Nyak Dun self-government agreement allows for the first nation to present the issues it wants to negotiate over the fiscal year by March 31. The transfer of education programs was included, he said.

Karyn Armour, the assistant deputy minister with land claims and first nations relations for the Yukon government, said there have already been meetings and talks with Na Cho Nyak Dun. She added she thought it had been decided there wouldn't be any meetings in August because of staff taking vacation and it generally being the time for traditional camps and hunting among the first nations.

Flynn said he was also surprised at the 16-day timeline to have representatives identified and present at the meeting today.

'Trying to organize ourselves, and the first nation and the Government of Canada in 16 days is not something that can easily be done,' he said.

But Armour said it shouldn't likely be a major problem. Even if there weren't representatives at the meeting, she said, the first nation should be able to proceed through that particular discussion without their presence.

'I've never seen ultimatums around dates and stuff,' said Elizabeth Hansen, regional director general for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Armour agreed that it is 'unusual' for a first nation to place negotiations and timeframes into the media spotlight.

Na Cho Nyak Dun issued a press release regarding the call for government representatives to today's meeting in late July.

'We don't negotiate in the media,' said Hansen. 'That may be an approach they've taken, but that's just not how we found it most effective to do things.'

The timeline the first nation is proposing in regards to taking over education for the 2006-07 academic year, also may not be realistic, added Hansen.

'It's hard to know if the fall of 2006 is attainable until you know what it looks like that you want to implement.'

Negotiating education is a challenging issue, she said, because it tends to go to the very core of a community.

With the current interest among first nations in establishing their own education programs, Hansen said, it is important to remember that it doesn't make much sense to divide the territory into 15 different education jurisdictions.

'I think we're seeing a level of frustration being expressed by leadership and by community members that says What we're seeing is still very improved, but not the kinds of improvement in terms of graduation rates and curriculum that speaks to us.' I think there's a sense that's not happening,' she said.

The education transfer negotiations will be a challenge for all parties, she said, but should also be a learning experience.

'The challenge for the first nation, as well as to the territorial government is, how does the community engage with the concept of school,' said Hansen, 'and what it means in terms of education. And whether � that's something that is going to be resolved through jurisdictional negotiations is a big challenge and it's a big question.

'It may not make sense to have a community that's very small attempting to deliver a whole range all of the education services, when a territory of 30,000 people struggles to deliver the full gamut of education and services for the students that attend the public school system.'