The Manitoba government has ordered a Winnipeg school division to allow a boy from a northern reserve to attend school in the city, even though he is not living with a legal guardian.

Eileen Apetagon recently moved to Winnipeg from the Norway House Cree Nation. She has cared for her 13-year-old grandson for several years, so he moved with her.

She told CBC News in October that when she tried to enrol the boy in school, she was told by the principal that — according to the Public Schools Act — her grandson was not funded to attend the school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division because his parents still lived in Norway House.

Apetagon said board officials told her she had two options if she wanted her grandson to attend a Winnipeg school: adopt him, or put him into the care of Child and Family Services.

Following a CBC story on the matter, Manitoba's education minister wrote to the school division, ordering officials to accept the boy.

The teen started school in Winnipeg on Monday morning, Apetagon said.

"It's hard for grandparents when that happens, because we don't want to take the parental rights away from our children, but there are times that we have to take on that responsibility for various reasons, and that should have been considered," she said.

Apetagon and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs are determined to change the legislation so no other First Nations families encounter the same problems.

"That's a practice of the past, and it shouldn't any longer continue," said AMC head Ron Evans.
 
The assembly and the provincial government were to meet on Monday to examine issues surrounding guardianship and school attendance.