Renewed Agreement Supports Mi’kmaw Students

Mi’kmaw students attending public schools will continue to receive the programs and services they need to succeed, thanks to a renewed five-year education agreement between the department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey communities.

Today, June 21, Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development joined members of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey communities for a ceremony where they signed the most recent Mi’kmaq Education Agreement.

The agreement helps guide public school programs and services to support Mi’kmaw students who are members of the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey communities and attend public school. It also ensures there are opportunities for Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey to participate in educational decisions that impact Nova Scotia’s education system.

“Mi’kmaq Kina’matnewey has continuously worked to enhance education and close the achievement gap that exists for Mi’kmaw students in the public school system,” said Mr. Churchill. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate on projects that will enhance the education experience of all students.”

The agreement provides guidelines for improved information sharing between the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey communities on-reserve education system and the public school system to help smooth the transition for students from one educational system to the other.

"It is perfect that we are having this signing on National Indigenous Peoples day, in a Mi'kmaw community,” said Chief Leroy Denny, chairman of the Board of Directors for Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey.

Under this agreement, we will continue to control our own education for our communities, remain focused on revitalizing our language and work towards bringing our students to the next level."

Nova Scotia is the first jurisdiction in Canada to foster a provincial structure that supports Mi’kmaw leadership leading Mi’kmaw education.