Library and Academic Services: Early Childhood Education: Indigenous Early Learning & Child Care

Indigenous Early Learning & Child Care

Children hold a sacred place in the cultures of Indigenous peoples. With that comes a sacred responsibility to care for them. High-quality, culturally-specific and well-supported early learning and child care (ELCC) programs, services and supports that are specifically designed for and with Indigenous families and communities will make a genuine difference in the early experiences of children. High-quality Indigenous ELCC programming provides educational opportunities and school readiness and contributes to their overall health and wellness from early years into adulthood.

Government of Canada: Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework

Websites & Documents

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society
The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS) is a Centre of Excellence for Indigenous early learning and child care. BCACCS was established in 1996 and supports Indigenous communities to develop high quality, culturally grounded, spiritually enriching community child care services that are based in the child’s culture, language and history. It provides an abundance of resources, services, education and training for parents and child care providers alike.
Ontario Indigenous Centre of Excellence for Early Years and Child Care
The Ontario Indigenous Centre of Excellence has a mandate to provide professional learning supports across the province through streams in all Ministry regions to support culturally relevant programming and the delivery of high-quality Indigenous child care and early years programs in the broad spectrum of Indigenous communities and organizations on and off-reserve, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework in Canada
The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework represents the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples’ work to co-develop a transformative Indigenous framework that reflects the unique cultures, aspirations and needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children across Canada. The Framework sets out a shared vision, principles and a path forward for Indigenous early learning and child care.
Indigenous Early Childhood Development in Canada: Current State of Knowledge and Future Directions by Regine Halseth and Margo Greenwood, PhD
Indigenous peoples experience a disproportionate burden of ill health associated with the socioeconomic context of their lives. Investing in quality early childhood development and care (ECDC) programs for Indigenous children is critical to redressing these health imbalances. This paper provides a brief overview of the current state of knowledge and knowledge gaps on the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis young children.

Library Resources

Supporting Indigenous Children's Development by Alan R. Pence; Jessica Ball
Location: E 96.2 .B35 2006 (Notre Dame Campus)
This book challenges and offers an alternative to the imposition of best practices on communities by outside specialists. The authors show how this innovative program has strengthened community capacity to design, deliver, and evaluate culturally appropriate programs to support young children's development.
Manitoba First Nations Guide to Support Early Learning by Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc.
Location: E 98 .C5 M36 2015 c. 2 (Community Services Learning Centre)
"Manitoba First Nations Guide to Support Early Learning provides a foundation for early learning programs and initiatives within Manitoba First Nations. We hope this guide will support parents, community members, educators and all who work with young children." -- Page 1.
Lessons from Turtle Island by Guy W. Jones; Sally Moomaw
Location: E 96.2 .J66 2002 (Notre Dame Campus)
Create a curriculum that reflects and honors the diversity of all people." Lessons from Turtle Island "explores Native American issues in preschool and early primary education. The authors -- one Native, one white -- offer guidelines for learning experiences that move children beyond embedded stereotypes.

Streaming Videos

Outdoor Daycare in Thompson
It's a chilly winter morning in Thompson, the largest Manitoba city north of Winnipeg, and kids at the early learning and child-care centre are running around playing in the snow and building forts. This isn't recess, though — this is how they spend the majority of their days at their northern daycare.
Urban.Indigenous.Proud: Zaagi'idiwin
This short film offers a snap-shot of life in Fort Frances, Ontario, as some of its community members prepare to gather in a special place that will bond their hearts and minds. By engaging in ceremony and celebrating their language, culture and land, the people are creating “Zaagi’idiwin”—a symbol of their truth, their story and their own reconciliation, which is community-defined, beautiful and inspiring.

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