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Curriculum and Policy

The need for Indigenous early childhood education is established in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous (UNDRIP).

The TRC, in effort to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation calls upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Indigenous families. Further, Article 14 of UNDRIP affirms Indigenous rights to establish, control, and access educational systems and institutions when possible in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.

The Indigenous Early Learning and Childcare (IELCC) Framework stems from a collaboration between First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and the Government of Canada aimed at establishing a shared vision and operating principles. This is achieved through a comprehensive and coordinated system of ELCC policies, programs and services led by Indigenous peoples, rooted in Indigenous knowledges, cultures and languages, and supported by strong partnerships of holistic, accessible and flexible programming.

To support the implementation of the Indigenous ELCC Framework, the Indigenous ELCC Transformation Initiative was established. The umbrella Terms and Conditions set by the Initiative are meant to enable inter-sectoral coordination (notably of investments between the federal departments responsible for Indigenous ELCC), and support more flexible, Indigenous led approaches and collaboration. To this end, new national and regional partnership tables have been initiated since 2018 to set priorities for Indigenous ELCC programming and recommend program and community allocations.

Inadequate and unequal community funding remains a barrier to improved collaboration among early childhood programs. Underinvestment in Indigenous early childhood programming (training and professional development of early childhood professionals included) and disjuncture across streams of programming leave professionals disconnected from one another. The effects of this disunity and chronic underfunding cannot be tackled by a single program but rather must be addressed through coordinated and carefully structured processes across existing programs.

ECEC curriculum is innately related to and informed by policy, and the vision for the TREE network is supported by recommendations put forth in the IELCC Framework. By providing a space for collaboration, co-learning and sharing, the TREE Network supports the ongoing development of culturally appropriate and embedded early learning and childcare programming for Indigenous children and their families across Canada.

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Photography by Louise Johns, Jamie Griffiths, Cathie Archbould, Matthew Perrin, Josie Rain and Alex Jacobs-blum; Videography by Red River College, Jamie Griffiths, Cathie Archbould, Sean Stiller, Pardeep Sooch and Catherine Martin

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The Training & Resources for Early Education & Schools (TREES) Network is a space for delivering and accessing culturally appropriate training, professional development, resources, communities of practice and mentorship opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous early learning professionals working with Indigenous children and families.

By coming together across communities, organizations and cultures, we can impact the bigger picture of Indigenous early education, child assessment and policy in Canada, so that Indigenous children will grow up proud of their culture and knowing that they belong.

The vision of the TREES Network is for early learning professionals to feel supported through training, resources and connections with others. The TREES Network strives to support early learning professionals to ground Indigenous children in their culture, nurturing stronger communities.

ACCESS TRAINING

The TREES Network supports access to culturally appropriate training and professional development for early learning professionals through the Understanding the Early Years course and Early Years Toolbox workshops. View upcoming trainings and workshops for your community through the Events Calendar.

EXPLORE RESOURCES

The TREES Network supports access to the Early Years Toolbox website, as well as access to accompanying resources through the Early Learning Library. Your access to resources is determined by your organization or community affiliation. Explore the Featured Partners page to view resources created by and in collaboration with Early Years partners.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS

To promote relationship-building and relational learning, the TREES Network provides opportunities for early learning professionals to build connections across the country. You can check out the Events Calendar to find events related to the early years, view the Interactive Map of early years services in different regions, or learn more about Supportive Circles as spaces to come together with others locally or across communities to share thoughts, ideas and support.

CREATE IMPACT

The TREES Network strives to create spaces through which we can collectively impact the bigger picture of Indigenous early learning in Canada. Learn about how Early Years sites are doing this through Early Years approach innovations, and about the important work many other organizations are doing to influence policy, curriculum, access to funding supports and program evaluation.

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