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The Early Years began in 2018 as a collaborative effort between Maskwacis Health Services, Maskwacis Education Schools Commission, the four Nations of Maskwacis and MFI. Within this collaboration, Maskwacis Health Services implements Early Years programming through culturally-adapted training and a variety of activities including home visiting, group gatherings and preschool programming.

Maskwacis Health Services evolved as a result of the lack of proper facilities and services available to the residents of the Four Band membership: Samson, Ermineskin, Louis Bull and Montana First Nations. In order to address the unique social, cultural and specific health needs of the increasing population, a different approach to First Nations health care was established, using traditional and contemporary healing practices, while maintaining respect for the cultural and spiritual beliefs.

The mission of Maskwacis Health Services is to improve and provide quality holistic health programs and services to the Maskwacis Peoples. Maskwacis Health Services provides the highest quality, comprehensive health care delivery system for all the members of the Maskwacis Peoples.

Heather Downie: What is Maskwacis Health Services?

In this video Heather Downie, MHS Early Years Program Manager, describes the many services offered by Maskwacis Health Services and the ways in which the MHS Early Years program has been tailored to meet the community’s specific needs.  

FEATURED RESOURCES

Get Ready for Preschool: Lesson Plans

Get acquainted with the MHS Early Years’ Get Ready for Preschool program by looking through two sample lesson plans.  

Click to open lesson plans

Cohort Unit Plan

View the Cohort Unit Plan used by MHS in their Get Ready for Preschool Program.

Click to open cohort plan

Cree Prayer

Read a Cree prayer that is often said at the beginning of a MHS Early Years Get Ready for Preschool session. 

Click to open prayer
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED MARTIN FAMILY INITIATIVE © 2022. THIS MATERIAL IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT AND OTHER LAWS. 

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

514 982 3911    treesnetwork@themfi.ca
300-759 Victoria Square Montreal, QC, H2Y 2J7
www.earlyyears.themfi.ca

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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.