ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 2012 - 2013 MFNERC VISION “Support First Nations to develop and implement a comprehensive holistic educational system inclusive of First Nations languages, world views, values, beliefs and traditions with exemplary academic standards, under First Nation jurisdiction.” MFNERC MISSION “To help First Nations improve education for all learners to achieve: mino-pimatisiwin (Cree/Ojibway/Oji-Cree) | honso aynai (Dene) | tokatakiya wichoni washte (Dakota)” CONTENT 4 Message from the Board of Directors 5 Message from the Executive Director 6 MFNERC Elders Council 6 Historical Overview 7 Governance 7 Reporting Relationship 8 Services Overview 9 Organizational Structure 10 Description of Programs Program Highlights 11 School Planning 13 First Nations Languages and Cultures Program (FNLC) 15 Student Learning Assessments 17 Integrated Programs: Land-Based Education and Science 19 Interdisciplinary Training Initiatives 20 Information Technology Support 22 Special Education 23 Best Practices in Curriculum, Instruction, Programming and Material Resources 27 Conferences and Community Relations 29 Private Home Placement (PHP) 31 Early Childhood Education 33 Performance Measurement and Data Collection 34 Research and Development 36 Wapaskwa Virtual Collegiate (WVC) 37 First Nations Education System (FNES) Initiative 38 Roseau River Anicinabe First Nation (RRAFN) Pilot Project 41 Five-Year Financial Summary 42 Partners 43 Conclusion MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The anitobaM First Nations children benefit from the best education possible Education Resource Centre that honours their identity as First Nations people. Inc. (MFNERC) Board of We acknowledge the education directors and Directors would like to extend school administrators working in our First greetings to all community Nations as they strive to ensure that schools are members of the First Nations in Manitoba. We safe and effective learning centers. We thank and would like to thank you and acknowledge you for acknowledge the school staff, the local school the work that you do in your communities and boards, and parents and community members for your continued support for the work of the who all play a critical role in the education of our Centre. children. MFNERC continues to provide services for 58 The MFNERC Board of Directors is committed First Nations schools as they strive to improve the to continuing to work with all partners in First quality of education for over 16,500 students who Nations education and supporting education attend on-reserve schools. This year marks 14 years endeavors that respect our treaties and honours that the organization has existed. There continues our traditions, languages and culture. to be many success stories and improvements in all areas as MFNERC specialists provide services Thank you to our leadership for continuing to in many critical areas including special education, serve Manitoba First Nations. We wish you all the assessment technology, numeracy, science, land- best. Ekosani, Miigwetch, Mahsi-cho, Pidamaye, based education, literacy, school planning, early Thank you! childhood and First Nations languages and culture. MFNERC also continues to provide training Nora Murdock and professional development opportunities for A/Chairperson, MFNERC Board of Directors those who work directly with the children in our communities. It is through mutual support and collaboration that we can continue to ensure that MFNERC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Edwin Jebb, Vice-Chairperson, School Board Member, Opaskwayak Cree Nation Grand Chief Murray Clearsky, Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) Nora Murdock, Interim Chairperson, Fisher River Cree Nation Chief Garrison Settee, Cross Lake First Nation Barry Bone, Councillor/Director of Education, Keeseekowenin First Nation Liz Merrick, Director of Education, Long Plain First Nation Alvin Grieves, Director of Education, Oxford House Cree Nation 4 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR On behalf of the staff and services provided in all other jurisdictions. Board of Directors of Imagine what could be done with all aspects of MFNERC, I am pleased to education if schools worked interdependently present a brief summary of supported by proper funding of a First Nations the activities undertaken for support system. 2012/2013. At one time our people effectively taught and MFNERC was established in 1998 by the Chiefs of instructed the children and youth in values, Manitoba with a mandate to provide second and morals, trades, leadership skills, counselling skills, third level services to the First Nations controlled survival skills, philosophy, civic responsibility, schools. First level service is provided by school organizational skills, beliefs, and spirituality. All staff directly to students. Second level service is the necessary skills were taught in order for the provided to those individuals in First Nations nations to survive and flourish. Learning activities who work with students in various capacities. were based on the premise of look, listen, learn It is my belief that by providing services such as and live. This was our education system and the professional development to enhance best practices beauty of this system was that it was failure proof. It or effective programming in First Nations schools, was pragmatic and it was life-long learning which quality and standards will improve. In addition, resulted in “mino-pimatisiwin (Ojibway, Cree, if the methods and strategies based on the latest Oji-Cree); honso aynai (Dene) and tokatakiya research and best practice, including linguistic wichoni waste (Dakota).” and cultural relevance, are utilized, opportunities Now in its 14th year, the Chiefs-in-Assembly for educational success for First Nations schools and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), will increase. Third level services include research has amended the mandate of the Centre to and curriculum development which also benefits offer enhanced second level services (school the students, especially curriculum materials and division-type services) while moving towards the resources in relevant areas. development of First Nations Education Systems. MFNERC staff work directly with the schools All services are based on needs as identified by the to facilitate processes, to provide professional First Nation, MFNERC continues to be governed development or to facilitate networking. Our role by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and the is similar to a school board of a provincial school authority remains with the First Nations. division. The primary difference is the provincial In closing, I believe that the Centre has made school boards have jurisdiction; in our case, a difference for our schools as prior to the the Manitoba Region of Aboriginal Affairs and establishment of MFNERC, First Nations schools Northern Development Canada (AANDC) have had little support outside of their own community. jurisdiction over the schools we serve. It is my belief, that if our people proactively pursue I am a strong believer of the collective and that the educational opportunities, our youth of today schools benefit from working interdependently. In and tomorrow, who will be graduating from our Manitoba, there are 58 First Nation schools, which schools, will receive the necessary education to are administered by 49 First Nations. Essentially acquire the skills required to meet the future with these First Nations are one-school systems with full confidence and a competitive edge. little or no support for second and third level ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 5 On behalf of MFNERC, a sincere thank you is First Nation schools and students in Manitoba. We extended to all of the education authority/school congratulate the AMC on 25 years of providing a board members, directors of education, principals, strong unified voice for Manitoba First Nations. vice-principals, teachers, resource teachers, I also thank the MFNERC Board of Directors, for educational assistants, Elders and especially their continued support and guidance, Aboriginal the students from the First Nations who have and Northern Affairs Canada, First Nations participated in MFNERC meetings, roundtable and Inuit Health, Environment Canada and the discussions, workshops, and conferences this past Province of Manitoba for their funding and in- year. Thank you to all of our partner organizations kind support, and last, but not least, the staff of whose valuable contributions assisted us in the Centre for their dedication and commitment providing services and resources to the schools. during this past year. In addition, our sincere appreciation is extended Ekosani, Miigwetch, Mahsi-cho, Pidamaye, Thank to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and directors you! of education who had the vision and foresight to create MFNERC in 1998. They realized that by Lorne C. Keeper working together, MFNERC would benefit all Executive Director MFNERC ELDERS COUNCIL Mabel Bignell, Opaskwayak Cree Nation Harry Bone, Keeseekoowenin First Nation Jim Cote, Waywayseecappo First Nation Evelyn Myran, Fisher River Cree Nation Ruth Myron, Long Plain First Nation Gilbert North, Oxford House Cree Nation HISTORICAL OVERVIEW In 1998, AMC established MFNERC through in Opaskwayak Cree Nation and on May 30-June resolution to provide coordinated second and 1, 2006 in Dakota Tipi First Nation. third level education services to Manitoba First Many priorities initially expressed by First Nations Nation schools in accordance with the Gathering such as increased special education funding