Cree curriculum at heart of new Alberta First Nation education plan

The Alberta government finalized a new education framework with a First Nation south of Edmonton on Wednesday morning.

Education Minister David Eggen met with the four Maskwacis Cree Nations to sign the agreement that’s intended to give kindergarten to Grade 12 students in the community access to a Cree-based curriculum.

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The agreement will provide the Maskwacis Education Schools Commission resources, expertise, advice and assistance to develop the new curriculum.

“It’s something I think we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives,” Eggen said. “[It’s] a chance for us to build a stronger bond for the sake of education for our young people here and to set an example for the rest of the province.”

The commission said the agreement represents a form of reconciliation with Maskwacis Cree people through education.

“It took a lot of negotiation and convincing that we can control our own education and bring our own native curriculum,” Montana Cree Nation Chief Leonard StandingontheRoad said.

“That’s the next process that has to happen and it’s a lot of work. These are just the preliminary stages when it comes to reconciliation.”

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The Maskwacis Education Schools Commission is the new education authority for all 11 schools and two Head Start programs in Maskwacis. Its primary goal is to improve education, services and student success within the Cree nation.