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Indigenous Education Leadership Collective

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION LEADERSHIP Collective

The Collective is a two-year professional learning experience that brings Indigenous school and early learning leadership teams from across Canada together to learn, share, and build a national network.

Want to Learn More?

Each Collective cohort runs for two years. Participants join with colleagues from their own school or program as a leadership team. Participants meet online once a month, and there is potential for in-person gatherings. Together with other participants, you’ll explore shared questions, receive coaching, and plan the next steps for your school or program.

A national peer network. Connect with First Nations school leaders who face similar challenges in unique community contexts.

Coaching and mentorship. Ongoing support from experienced Indigenous educators.

Progress on your priorities. Develop and begin a school improvement project defined by your community. The Collective is not prescriptive.

Stronger leadership and succession. Build distributed leadership that lasts beyond any one person.

Support between sessions. Videos, resources, and discussion boards through the TREES Network.

The Collective builds on more than 15 years of partnership with First Nations schools through the Model Schools Literacy Project, the First Nations School Principals’ Course, and Leadership in Teaching and Training.

Leaders in provincial systems have access to coordinated leadership learning, peer connection, and sustained support. Leaders in federally funded First Nations schools are too often expected to go without. The Collective is built to change that, grounded in reciprocity, relationship, shared wisdom, and communal responsibility.

Join one of our virtual information sessions to meet the team, hear how the Collective works, and ask your questions. Click a date below to access the Zoom link.

Friday, October 16 3:00 – 3:45 PM EST

Tuesday, October 20 6:00 – 6:45PM EST

Wednesday, October 21 2:00 – 2:45 PM EST

Thursday, October 29 2:00 – 2:45 PM EST

Can’t make it? Reach out to us at hpennie@themfi.ca.

Join the next cohort

Every applicant will be welcomed into our broader network, with access to shared resources and peer connections. For the intensive two-year cohort, we’ll select a small group of schools based on self-identified readiness, regional considerations, goal alignment with other cohort schools, team capacity, and a mix of school contexts. Selection reflects fit for a particular cohort, not a school’s quality, and network members will have opportunities to apply to future cohorts as they arise.

READY TO JOIN ? FILL IN THIS FORM

HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COHORT

Accepting Applications Now

If you lead a secondary school, this cohort is for you. You’ll focus on student pathways: from elementary to secondary school, and from secondary school into further education and careers. Your team will leave with school improvement goals built for your community.

EARLY LEARNING COHORT

Check back in Early 2027

If you lead an early learning program, including home visiting or centre-based care, this cohort is for you. You’ll focus on strengthening supports for young children and families. Your team will leave with program goals that reflect your community’s priorities, language and culture.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COHORT

Check back in Early 2027

Elementary schools interested in the Collective are welcome to contact us to find out more. We will be announcing our next elementary cohort intake in early 2027.

The Collective model is grounded in feedback from MFI partners and in what we have learned about the critical role of school leadership. It reflects a growing understanding of the conditions and supports leaders need to carry out their work effectively in their communities through targeted inquiry into school improvement, instructional practices, and the ongoing development of educator capacity.

Meet the Collective Team

DEBBIE MICHAEL
Indigenous Education Leadership Collective Lead

Debbie is an Indigenous educator from the Peter Chapman Band on Treaty Six territory in Saskatchewan, and calls Edmonton, Alberta home. With 33 years as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and human resources director, she is known for transformational, spirit-grounded leadership that helps leaders build authentic relationships and create lasting change.

HEATHER PENNIE
Education and Leadership Program Director

Heather has spent more than 25 years as an elementary teacher and principal in schools with large Indigenous populations, beginning her career in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. She has lived and worked most of her life on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Her husband and two children are Fish Clan and members of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

RAMONA SHAWANA
Senior Program Lead, Early Education

Ramona is an Anishinabe Kwe and Early Childhood Educator from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory with more than 30 years in the early years sector. She holds a Professional Master of Education (Aboriginal Education) and is a qualified Communicative Disorders Assistant, and has dedicated her work to learning rooted in Anishinaabe knowledge and identity.

JENN WROE
Instructional Coach

Jenn brings more than 25 years of experience in elementary schools in BC, Manitoba and Ontario, including six years as a system-level instructional coach. Jenn is passionate about literacy and about making learning authentic, experiential and connected to community and culture, both in and out of the classroom. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors, time with family and a good book.

SHANNON MOUCHET
Program Operations Administrator

Shannon manages logistics and coordination for MFI’s programs, including the Collective. She organizes gatherings, keeps schedules and communications running smoothly, and is often the first point of contact for participants. Her focus on operational efficiency helps make sure every session and in-person gathering runs well, so leaders can concentrate on their learning.

2026 © The Martin Family Initiative. All rights reserved.

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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