About Indigenous Education
Kwe’, Hello, Bonjour
Indigenous Education is rooted in recognizing the interconnectedness of one another and to the land. There is a great focus on understanding and deepening historical and cultural knowledge, conservation efforts of cultural knowledges and languages, and the development of educational programs and services for students.
Department of Education and Early Year’s Commitment to Reconciliation
In the spirit of reconciliation, the Department of Education and Early Years (the Department) is committed to deliver educational programming, courses and materials that are respectful of Indigenous knowledges and perspectives. There is a collective responsibility to develop a genuine understanding of our shared history and its continuing impacts on Indigenous Peoples.
The Department is committed to this continual work, which includes Indigenous perspectives, knowledges and ways of knowing in the delivery of public education in Prince Edward Island, as well as creating supportive and culturally safe environments where students feel empowered to learn about truth and reconciliation and Indigenous knowledges within their learning environments.
To achieve this, the Department will:
- Acknowledge traditional custodians of the land
- Ensure training on truth and reconciliation is ongoing
- Expand cultural and linguistic knowledge through ongoing curriculum development and professional learning
- Challenge and address inequities within policies and practices
What is the Province doing to advance reconciliation?
The Government of PEI entered into a Treaty Education Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2022 with the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils, represented by Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation and Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation. This work sets out a path for the Province to work together on treaty education curriculum in schools.
As part of the Department of Education and Early Years' mandate, and in collaboration with other provincial departments, an Indigenous Education Advisory Committee was established to strengthen the provincial commitment to ongoing initiatives to advance Indigenous education within public schools across PEI.
Indigenous Education Advisory Committee
The Indigenous Education Advisory Committee is comprised of members representing a variety of groups, including the Abegweit First Nation, Lennox Island First Nation, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and UPEI.
Together, they review Indigenous education priorities and projects, curriculum development, professional learning opportunities for the department and front-line educators, as well as resources to enhance Indigenous education and curriculum for all students in public schools across PEI.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Annual Report
The Department plays a key role on how the Province is advancing actions towards reconciliation and honouring the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Calls for Justice and Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. Through meaningful activities and initiatives within public schools, work by departmental and front-line staff, as well as professional learning opportunities, the Department looks to continually further steps on the shared path of reconciliation within PEI’s public education system.
Supports for Indigenous Education
The Department is committed to creating supportive and culturally safe environments where students feel empowered to learn about truth and reconciliation.
We invite applications from community organizations and authors to submit their requests to the Department for consideration to enhance Indigenous education commitments.
You are required to provide contact information and details of your request using the online form that can be found at the bottom of this page; note that an asterisk (*) indicates a mandatory field.
Decisions about the requests are made based on professional learning needs, timeline availability, budget, and other factors.
All requests will be reviewed by staff of the English Education Programs and Services division or by staff of the French Education Programs and Services division.
You will be advised in writing when a decision is made or if a follow-up is required to assist with the decision.
Student Resources
Students wishing to learn more about Indigenous matters or find Indigenous authored materials can access close to 900 items at any PEI public library.
Upon high school graduation, students of Indigenous descent living in PEI and who are enrolled in a full-time program at Holland College or UPEI, are eligible for the John J. Sark Memorial Scholarship.
Educator Resources
Educators looking for Indigenous education resources to include in their classrooms will refer to the list of authorized materials in the Programs of Study.
Educators can choose from a variety of materials that prioritize resources developed by, or in collaboration with, Indigenous Peoples and communities. This ensures accurate representation of Indigenous knowledges, perspectives, voices and experiences.