Over 200 education leaders from across Canada will be gathering at Vancouver’s Musqueam Cultural Centre from Oct 6-7 to discuss one of the most urgent issues facing Canada’s future: ensuring the success of all Indigenous students and decreasing the number who are tuning out – and dropping out – of school.
With educators across Canada currently challenged to embed Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and Worldviews into Canadian K-12 classrooms, the Canadian Education Association (CEA) is hosting this timely event to showcase First Nations and provincial school educators who are taking risks and implementing bold, culturally relevant, community-supported programs that connect deeply with Indigenous students’ ways of learning and coming to know. These successful programs merit our attention.
“Rather than dwelling on all of the significant challenges that Indigenous educators face on a daily basis, we will seize this opportunity to showcase pragmatic, successful examples of what’s working across Canada in these schools and classrooms,” explains CEA President and CEO Ron Canuel. “It’s time for Indigenous educators to show us the way.”
Through compelling keynotes, case study presentations and hands-on workshops – including a conversation with The Right Honourable Paul Martin – a diverse group of presenters will share how their successful community-driven learning programs engage the hearts, hands and minds of students while enabling them to develop 21st century skills.
Inspired by some of Canada’s most successful Indigenous learning programs, symposium participants will return to their schools, classrooms and communities equipped with new ideas, motivation and a learning support network that will help them implement their own innovative program and achieve their goals.
For more information about First Nations Schools First!, please visit:
Symposium hashtag: #FirstNations1st