Significant Progress for First Nations Education 

At the Extraordinary General Assembly held on October 29, the FNEC Secretariat was entrusted with strategic mandates aimed at securing long-term funding and strengthening the educational services offered to member communities.  

Building on the REA’s success, the FNEC has also been mandated to establish a governance structure and negotiate with ISC dedicated funding for school infrastructure. The goal is to meet the rapidly growing needs of member communities and provide optimal conditions for Indigenous learners to succeed, including:  

• Responding to fast-growing demographics  

• Adding facilities dedicated to the transmission of traditional knowledge  

• Supporting staff retention with sufficient housing for education professionals  

• Providing learning environments aligned with community-driven curricula  

• Creating inspiring spaces that strengthen cultural pride  

Expanding and modernizing school infrastructure, as well as increasing available staff housing, is essential to consolidating the achievements of the REA and maximizing its long-term benefits.  

A Curriculum Rooted in Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives  

Another significant advancement is the approval granted to FNEC to develop a curriculum grounded in Indigenous knowledge. This curriculum aims to reinforce “reconcil’Action,” honour ancestral traditions, and meet contemporary educational expectations. It will allow young people to draw from the strength of their cultural heritage while acquiring the skills they need to navigate today’s world with confidence.  

5th edition of the Parents Gathering 

The 5th edition of the Parents Gathering, a First Nations parental and community involvement event, was held on September 23, 24 and 25, 2025 at the Manoir Saint-Gabriel under the theme “Together”. The presentations and workshops at this gathering for parents aimed to mobilize the participants to better support young people in our schools in their academic path. 

More specifically, the Gathering targeted the following objectives:  

• Raise awareness among the parents of First Nations communities on the importance of parental involvement 

• Empower parents to enable them to fully participate in their children’s education 

• Pursue the development of a First Nations communities parents’ network to open a dialogue between them 

Several workshops and conferences were presented on a variety of themes. The FNEC team ensured that the themes discussed during the different workshops and conferences were consistent with the previously mentioned objectives. The FNEC selected the presentation by taking into considerations the interests and suggestions of people who took part in the 4th edition (2019): 

• Collaboration between the school and the family  

• Possibility of supporting their child’s learning in a multilingual environment 

• Parental styles and parental skills 

• Healthy screen management 

• Development of preschool age children 

• Support your child in their dreams for the future: the role of parents from early childhood 

• Key steps in your child’s academic path 

• Literacy and numeracy 

There as a also a surprise for the members of the gathering: an artist came to create a canvas representing the statement “Every child matters.” A draw was held to offer the work to a participant. 

The FNEC took steps to devote a substantial part of the meeting to discussions between the people present. Indeed, First Nations participants delivered testimonials on the importance of the family and the community for successes in parental participation. 

Over the years, the parents, community resources and schools have become more aware of the role and place held by parents in the education of First Nations youth. Together, the attendees, participants or speakers, contributed
to shaping and advancing the school culture in First Nations education.