Understanding the Early Years Course - TREES Network

Understanding the Early Years Course

Understanding the Early Years is a training course that weaves  together Indigenous community-based expertise around birth and child-rearing practices with non-Indigenous theory about healthy child development. 

The primary goal of the course is to equip professionals working with young Indigenous children and families with a strong understanding of early child development – beginning at conception and continuing through to school entry – that they can meaningfully and practically apply to their work in their community.

The course consists of media-rich modules including videos of Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and early learning professionals, as well as interactive elements such as discussion boards and creative activities. The course also draws on the Early Years Toolbox to strengthen learners’ understanding of specific topics related to child development, as well as to reinforce their ability to apply theory from the course to their practice.

The Early Years coordinates with community organizations to design and support in-person, online or hybrid course delivery.

Current versions of the Understanding the Early Years course are available for the following organizations:

Maskwacis Health Services
Ilitaqsiniq
Yukon First Nation Education Directorate
Native Child and Family Services of TorontoTajikeimik
Maswacis Education Directorate
Yukon First Nation Department of Education

*Coming Soon:

Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association

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.