The federal government is fighting an Anishinaabe First Nation in what could be a precedent-setting legal battle about the alleged systemic underfunding of on-reserve schools in Ontario.

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation presented its opening statement Monday to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, alleging Canada’s education funding model is inadequate, racially discriminatory and perpetuates the colonial harms inflicted on children at residential schools.

Though launched by one community, the case is about all First Nations kids across Ontario, said Chief Claire Sault at a ceremony before the hearing began.

“For far too long First Nations students have faced barriers that no child should have to face,” she said in a speech.

The human rights tribunal is a court-like body that jud

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