Children who live on native reserves often have their feet in two worlds when it comes to education and many are unprepared to sacrifice one for the other.
That’s one of the messages that has been delivered repeatedly to a panel on first-nations learning that was struck a year ago by the federal government and the Assembly of First Nations.
The panel holds its final roundtable in Ottawa on Tuesday and Kenzie Wilson will be one of the participants. The 13-year-old who loves racing sled dogs across the ice near her home in Cross Lake in northern Manitoba says she wants to be a fighter pilot when she grows up. That means she has a lot of years of formal education ahead of her.
Funds have been allocated in this year’s First Nations Student Success Program (FNSSP) work plan to support action research projects in participating schools. The intent of this initiative is to promote inquiry, reflection, and professional dialogue; facilitate the accumulation of educational research that is relevant to First Nations; and ultimately, realize improved student outcomes.
Individuals or groups can submit research proposals to access all or part of the thirty-five hundred dollars allocated for each school. Research proposals must be presented on the form provided and signed off by the local leadership (Chief and Council or designate). Submissions will be assessed against strict guidelines for ethics and practice in research.
The guidelines and application form are attached. Please make additional copies if required.
Questions about this initiative may be directed to Rab Subedar, Director of Service Delivery at (204) 594-1290. Completed submissions are to be sent to Beverly McKay, Administrative Assistant via fax (204) 477-4314 or email
before November 8, 2011.
On behalf of the staff and management of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource, I would like to welcome back the teachers, educators and educational leadership to the 2011/2012 school year. It is my hope that you all had a safe and enjoyable summer break.
The staff at the MFNERC remained active throughout the summer in preparing for the new school year. Summer Institutes took place with great participation from educators. The MFNERC staff attended various events such as the National Cree Gathering, the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs annual general assembly.
Children who live on native reserves often have their feet in two worlds when it comes to education and many are unprepared to sacrifice one for the other. 
On behalf of the staff and management of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource, I would like to welcome back the teachers, educators and educational leadership to the 2011/2012 school year. It is my hope that you all had a safe and enjoyable summer break. 