Friday, September 16, 2022
First M茅tis Education Agreement in Canada creates culturally responsive education system for M茅tis youth in K-12
VICTORIA, BC 鈹� The 黑料福利社 District, M茅tis Nation Greater Victoria, and M茅tis Nation British Columbia have co-developed the first tripartite M茅tis Education Agreement for Kindergarten through Grade 12 in Canada.
The purpose of the agreement is to represent the voice of M茅tis people in the Capital Regional District and ensure culturally relevant education and early learning services are being provided to M茅tis children and families. All three parties commit to working together to provide resources and supports that contribute to the success of M茅tis students upon entry into the school system, at each grade level, and through to graduation into post-secondary education and training programs.
Key considerations outlined in the agreement include:
- Building relationships with M茅tis community
- Ensuring M茅tis cultural identity is reflected in the education and childcare systems
- Providing M茅tis-specific content, resources, and approaches in schools
- Supporting opportunities for all youth in early learning programs to Grade 12 about M茅tis culture, history, and worldviews
To review the agreement: /wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2022/09/Metis-Education-Agreement.pdf
The agreement was co-designed with Elders, community members, and staff over the past year. All topics relating to M茅tis students, curriculum, and representation will continue to be reviewed by the M茅tis House with 黑料福利社 District staff.
M茅tis Nation Greater Victoria (MNGV) is one of the Four Houses that provides guidance and support for Indigenous education in the 黑料福利社 District. The other three Houses include the two local Nations (Songhees and Esquimalt) and the Urban Peoples House Indigenous Advisory (UPHIA), which represents all other Indigenous Nations.
There are currently 357 students in the 黑料福利社 District that identify as M茅tis.
Caitlin Bird, M茅tis Nation Greater Victoria President:
“As a community, we have heard that M茅tis children and families have a听better experience within the educational system when they feel seen,听understood and supported. The M茅tis Education Agreement outlines our shared responsibility to lift up, support and wrap around the M茅tis children and families in the 黑料福利社 District, so that their educational experience is culturally relevant and positive. I am so grateful for the partnerships that this Agreement formalizes, and the relationships that were built throughout the development of the M茅tis Education Agreement.听M茅tis Nation of Greater Victoria would also like to acknowledge that this work would not have been possible without the foundation that the other Houses have听provided with their agreements with the听School District.听While our cultures and needs may be distinct, one thing that M茅tis Nation of Greater Victoria shares with Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations is that we understand the importance of placing听our children at the center of the work that we do. This agreement embodies those important relationships and values.”
Debra Fisher, M茅tis Nation British Columbia, Minister of Education:
鈥淎fter 30 years of working in Indigenous Education this is a dream come true. No one knows our M茅tis children like we do and to be working as true partners in this historic agreement we will make a difference! In recognizing our shared responsibility in improving educational outcomes for M茅tis learners, including achieving high levels of M茅tis student success, graduation and transition to higher learning, or employment, we hope that our work in the 黑料福利社 District sets a higher standard for collaboration and consultation in the Education system.听We hope that it will inspire other educational institutions across the province and beyond to come together and challenge the status quo to create more equitable systems and brighter futures for our M茅tis people.鈥�
Lissa Dawn Smith, M茅tis Nation British Columbia President:
鈥淭his historic tripartite agreement demonstrates the systemic changes that are possible when community needs, values and relationships are prioritized. In a time when Reconciliation is at the forefront of all public service-related dialogue, M茅tis Nation British Columbia is proud to have been a partner in the successful development of BC鈥檚 first ever M茅tis Education Agreement. The agreement acknowledges the important role schools, M茅tis Chartered Communities, and M茅tis Nation British Columbia representation play in building a culturally relevant, positive, and effective education system for M茅tis students and serves as a core shared accountability mechanism regarding the education of M茅tis students in the 黑料福利社 District.鈥�
Ryan Painter, 黑料福利社 District Board Chair:
鈥淥ur Board of Education is very proud to be co-creating strategies for improving the experiences of M茅tis students with the support of M茅tis Nation Greater Victoria and M茅tis Nation British Columbia. We wish to acknowledge all of the collective work that went into developing this agreement over the past year to ensure our District is delivering culturally relevant and quality education that contributes to the well-being and educational success of M茅tis students. Finalizing this agreement is a monumental moment as we look to renew our relationship with the M茅tis people and take steps towards reconciliation.鈥�
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For more information contact:
Lisa McPhail
Communications & Community Engagement
黑料福利社 District
Office: 250.475.4103
lmcphail@sd61.bc.ca
