About the Council on Mi'kmaq Education
Our Mission
To provide guidance and advice to the Minister of Education on the development, implementation and funding of all educational programs and services which impact on the educational concerns of Mi'kmaq people in Nova Scotia.
Our Responsibilities
- Provide guidance to the Minister on the development, implementation, evaluation and funding of education programs and services for Mi'kmaw students in the public school system;
- In respect of the Public School Program (PSP) and Mi'kmaw students, advise the Minister on the development of appropriate curricula reflecting Mi'kmaw history, language, heritage, culture, traditions and contributions to society;
- In respect of the PSP and non-native students, advise the Minister on the development of appropriate curricula reflecting Mi'kmaw history, language, heritage, culture, traditions and contributions to society;
- In respect of the PSP, advise the Minister respecting the development of Mi'kmaw language arts courses for Mi'kmaw students and Mi'kmaw language arts courses for non-native students;
- Advise the Minister respecting the adequacy of the information about the Mi'kmaq Nation and other First Nations as found in existing curricula, and provide suggestions for change where needed;
- Advise the Minister respecting the ways the programs and services of the
- Department of Education are meeting the needs of Mi'kmaw students in the public schools and in respect of adult education, and the ways they may be improved to better serve Mi'kmaw Students;
- Make recommendations to the Minister regarding cross-cultural issues, learning styles and assessment practices and how these may be supported in the public education system;
- Recommend to the Minister policies, initiatives and ideas which foster the education development of Mi'kmaw students and the advancement of Mi'kmaw education;
- Make recommendations to the Minister in respect of research on matters relevant to the education of Mi'kmaw students.
Our history
In 1993, in response to a request from Mi'kmaq in Nova Scotia, the Department of Education formed a Task Force whose mandate was to make recommendations to the Minister of Education addressing the needs of the Mi'kmaw students in the public schools. In the fall of 1996, legislation was approved elevating the Task Force on Mi'kmaq Education to a Council on Mi'kmaq Education (CME) as part of the revised Education Act, that received Royal Assent in January of 1996. The newly appointed CME (1998) continues to provide guidance to the Minister on programs and services in public schools and on adult education.
Representation
The Council consists of the following members appointed by the Minister:
- Not less than 4, nor more than 6, persons recommended by Mi'kmaw organizations including: Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey, Native Council of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Native Women's Association, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq and Union of Nova Scotia Indians;
- Mi'kmaq representatives to the regional school boards;
- Three members at large representing the Mi'kmaw community.
|
