First Nation Education Engagement Process and Timeline

OVERVIEW

Supported by Budget 2016s unprecedented commitments for First Nation education, the Government of
Canada is committed to working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure that all First Nation students
receive a culturally responsive, high-quality education that improves student outcomes, while respecting the
principle of First Nations control of First Nation education.
In alignment with Resolution No.16/2016, passed at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly
in July 2016, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has been working closely with the Assembly of
First Nations (AFN), the Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE), and the National Indian Education Council
(NIEC) to jointly design and implement an engagement process aimed at developing recommendations for
enhancing First Nations education.
This engagement process was launched in late 2016 and aims to include the perspectives of all First Nations.
It includes four key elements.

1. COMMUNITY-LEVEL DISCUSSIONS (launched November 2016)

As an initial step in the engagement process, INAC has provided $3.1 million to support local discussions in
First Nation communities about how the Government of Canada can best support First Nations in their efforts
to improve educational outcomes of First Nation students. These community-level discussions will run
between December 2016 and March 2017 and they will hopefully help inform other elements of the
engagement process.

2. SURVEY & SOCIAL MEDIA (launched February 2017)

To complement the community-level discussions, and provide an opportunity for additional voices to be heard,
INAC has launched an online survey and social media campaign on First Nation education. The survey seeks
input from a variety of First Nation stakeholders across the country. The responses will be confidential and
information collected will help inform the technical task teams and guide the leadership dialogue phase of
engagement.

3. TECHNICAL TASK TEAMS (first official meetings held January/February 2017)

To work together in addressing various issues of importance to First Nation education, INAC and the CCOE
have established a series of technical discussion tables that bring together First Nations and Government of
Canada subject matters experts from various regions. Current discussions are focused on five priority areas:
How to improve the way INAC funds First Nation education
o Explore options for regionally-based fiscal frameworks and funding mechanisms for First
Nation K-12 education that would replace current INAC funding methodologies.
 Potential new national legislation on First Nation education focused on establishing a guarantee of
statutory funding.
o Respond to recent Resolutions by Chiefs in Assembly calling for First Nation education
legislation; INAC seeks to validate support and explore options for legislation.
How the Government of Canada can best support the post-secondary education of First Nations
students.
o Identify gaps and deficiencies of current First Nation post-secondary education funding,
reviewing post-secondary education programs and highlighting options that meet the needs of
First Nation post-secondary students.
How the Government of Canada can best support culturally appropriate and high-quality early
childhood education programs on reserve.
o Examine best practices for the implementation of Early Childhood Education in First Nation
schools and identify ways to improve access to quality early childhood education for First
Nation students.
Mutual accountability and how to measure First Nation student success and progress toward
overcoming the education outcome gap.
o Explore regional indicators for measuring success, as well as discuss mutual accountability
and reporting.

4. LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE EVENTS (April to July 2017)

INAC is working with First Nation organizations to organize a series of regional leadership dialogue events
between senior Government of Canada officials and First Nations leadership in 2017. These discussions will
be tailored to each regional context, but will generally focus on directly validating with First Nations:
Options and the recommended approach for modernizing the way INAC funds First Nations education
How best INAC can support system transformation to improve the education outcomes of First Nations
elementary and secondary students and
Options associated with the new national legislation on First Nations education that Chiefs in
Assembly have called for.

OUTCOME

Overall the engagement process will help establish a new partnership between Canada and First Nations to
ensure that all First Nation students receive a culturally responsive high-quality education that improves
student outcomes, while respecting regional priorities and the principle of First Nations control of First Nations
education.

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