FNEC Annual General Assembly 

On September 26th and 27th, the FNEC welcomed 18 representatives at the Hôtel Le Concorde Québec for its Annual General Meeting. Topics of discussion included the work of the Regional Education Agreement, and exchanges on practices and strategies that have emerged since the signing of the Regional Education Agreement. There was also an update on the work of the Regional Committee for First Nations Languages the Technology Services, the House of Knowledge, and on federal and provincial relations. 

First Forum on the First Nations Language Rights in Quebec
 

The Regional Committee on First Nations Languages was honoured to organize the first-ever Forum on the First Nations Language Rights in Quebec. This historic event, held on September 19 and 20 at the Manoir du Lac Delage and online, brought together over 100 participants. The initiative demonstrated the importance of the Committee's and communities' commitment to recognizing and respecting the rights of INdigenous peoples with regard to their languages and cultures. The forum was also supported by several regional First Nations commissions and organizations in Quebec.     

The aim of the forum was to mobilize knowledge and promote knowledge-sharing between First Nations on inherent rights, including language rights. Grand Chiefs, Chiefs and elected officials from First Nations governments, as well as several directors of commissions and organizations, had the opportunity to share their vision of language protection and revitalization.   

The forum also aimed to highlight the diversity of current language policies. First Nations languages and the authority over them belong to First Nations alone, and must be respected. 

Federal funding – First Nations Regionally Designated Organizations  
 

Since 2022, the Regional Committee on First Nations Languages (Committee) has begun discussions with representatives and the head languages portfolio holder on the importance  of assuming responsibility for the regional allocation for First Nations languages and cultures. The Committee's deliberations were based primarily on developing and leveraging its expertise and assuming responsibility for our languages. For several years, the Committee has been committed to supporting communities in the funding application process for Canadian Heritage's Languages and Cultures Program.  

The Indigenous Languages Act allows organizations to take charge of adminstering their regional allocations, as it recognizes that Indigenous people are best placed to carry out this work. 

The AFNQL Chiefs, meeting in assembly on September 27, 2023, mandated the Committee to assume the duties of a regional organization. The Committee will consult with communities in Quebec and Labrador to establish a structure that is culturally respectful of First Nations know-how. It will draw on the experience of Canadian Heritage and other designated organizations in Canada. 

The Committee will thus be able to act on behalf of First Nations, according to our worldview and our language priorities. 

Application for judicial review by the AFNQL and FNEC: latest developments 

On April 20,2023, the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) and the FNEC filed an application for judicial review with the Superior Court of Québec, seeking to have 14 sections of the Charter of the French Language declared null, invalid, unconstitutional and of no force and effect, on the grounds that these sections unjustifiably infringe upon the Indigenous rights of First Nations. In addition to the rights relating to First Nations languages, the application concerns the rights to self-determination and self-government in matters of education...Read

Provincial Round Table on the Educational Success of Indigenous Students,  (the ‘‘Table’’) ...Read

House of Knowledge

On November 23 and 24, at the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, the second meeting of the House of Knowledge steering committee was held.   

The two-day event was an opportunity to engage in fruitful exchanges, enhance cooperation between the FNEC and its partner universities, and co-develop an action plan for an institution of higher learning by and for First Peoples.

We were fortunate to have several universities around the table, including Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Concordia University, Université de Montréal, Université Laval and Université du Québec Network. 

First Nations Preschool Cycle Program

On October 24 and 25, at Saint-Sauveur, was the official launch of the First Nations Preschool Cycle Program.  

The program, a co-creation of the First Nations Education Council and preschool teachers from member schools, stands out for its holistic approach, which takes into account the child's overall context (family, community, identity, etc.). 
PRESS RELEASE

School Leaders’ Retreat – December 2023 

It is with warmth and enthusiasm, that we welcome our Directors of Education, Principals, and Vice Principals to the FNEC School Leaders’ Retreat taking place on December 4-5-6, 2023, at the Entourage sur-le-Lac in Lac-Beauport.    

Our retreat encompasses a wide range of topics specifically chosen to meet the needs and interests of our educational leaders and member communities.  Beyond our distinguished keynote, Mr. Tom Hierck, who will be presenting on multitiered system of supports (MTSS), we dive into various subjects such as the Regional Educational Agreement and performance indicators by and for First Nations, the exploration of mentorship programs, the welcome and integration of school staff, the integration of teaching foundations within a first nations context, and many more. We have also ensured spaces for open dialogue and networking, recognizing that collaborative efforts and shared experiences often lead to the most profound insights and innovations.   

We thank each school leader for their participation and look
forward to our time together.  

Quebec career week

As part of the 17th edition of Quebec career week ,held from November 13th to 17th, FNEC guidance counsellor Emilie Allen presented one workshop a day online. 

Monday: Demystifying the Role of the Guidance Counsellor 

Tuesday: Educational Pathways in Quebec 

Wednesday: Guidance Tools 

Thursday: Spheres of Professional Activity 

Friday: How to make a career choice? 

Four communities, some sixty students and eight education professionals, both English-speaking and French-speaking, took part in these workshops throughout the week.  

For FNEC member communities, it's possible to request a turnkey presentation at a time that's convenient for you, on one of these subjects or on other subjects, depending on your needs. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Allen.  

Here is a short video from the guidance counsellors  (French only) 

For those who would like to start CEGEP in the fall 2024, several open houses are offered in January, and the deadline for the first-round CEGEP registration is March 1, 2024. Don't hesitate to consult a guidance counsellor if you feel the need. 

 

Parent Page  

After reviewing the results of a survey indicating that improvements could be made to the CANO parents' page, the team has been updating it over the past few months. Not only has the page been given a fresh new look, but several new features have also been added. These include school events and news, student results and report cards, the list of absences, a way parents to give a reason for a subsequent absences, a space for student homework, for behavioural incidents, as well as the student's intervention plan. The content of the parents' page can be customized by the school. This page is an indispensable tool for involving parents in young people’s academic success.