The federal government's response to the crisis in Attawapiskat must begin with a renewed focus on education, says former prime minister Paul Martin.

Martin, who helped usher in the Kelowna Accord which sought to improve the plight of Aboriginals across Canada, said education is vastly underfunded on reserves, where it is the responsibility of the federal government.

Elsewhere in Canada the provinces and territories are in charge of education.

"20-40 per cent less money is spent on education in primary and high school on reserves, compared to what provinces spend in their jurisdiction," Martin told CTV News Channel.

"Most Canadians would not send their children to the kind of schools that Ottawa asks Aboriginals or First Nations to attend on a reserve."

The community of Attawapiskat rocketed into the headlines last month when leaders declared a state of emergency and images began to emerge of uninsulated plywood shacks, moldy housing and large families crammed into small houses.

The community's elementary school has been closed since 2000 with classes being held in portables.

Since the story first broke, the federal government has taken over management of the community, complaining that $90 million has been spent there in the last six years and the money doesn't seem to have been managed properly.

Martin said part of the problem is that the Conservatives turned their back on the Kelowna Accord, which was the result of 18 months of discussions between the federal government, the premiers and aboriginal leaders.

Many aboriginal leaders saw the agreement as a breakthrough for native people in Canada, placing a new focus on education, employment and living conditions for First Nations.

However, after Martin's government fell in 2006 and the Conservative minority government took office, the Kelowna Accord was never fully implemented.

Instead, Martin said, the Conservatives implemented a strategy of imposing decisions on Aboriginal communities, rather than working with them to find solutions.

"We've got to understand these are this country's first people. They were here long before we came, they had their existing traditions, their existing beliefs and the fact of the matter is they had their identity and they want to maintain that identity and that is perfectly natural."