Partners

FNEA is proud to work in partnership with other organizations that help support Participating First Nations in the exercise of jurisdiction over education.

The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)

FNESC is a policy and advocacy organization established in 1992 that represents and works on behalf of First Nations in British Columbia, including Participating First Nations (PFNs). FNESC has a mandate to advance First Nations education in British Columbia by disseminating information, undertaking research, administering programs and services, and advocating and negotiating with the provincial and federal governments and other key stakeholders at the direction of First Nations.

For two decades, FNESC has supported First Nations in negotiating and preparing to implement the education jurisdiction initiative and played a primary role in establishing FNEA. FNESC provides onboarding support to First Nations wishing to pursue education jurisdiction.

FNEA and FNESC are committed to working together to support PFN’s exercise of jurisdiction over education on First Nation land. FNESC provides support services to assist FNEA in regards to FNEA’s processes for teacher certification and regulation, school certification, graduation certificates, and the evaluation of First Nations-approved courses required to graduate.

www.fnesc.ca

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The First Nations Schools Association (FNSA)

The FNSA is a non-profit society founded in 1998 that represents and works on behalf of First Nations controlled schools in BC. Almost all of the First Nations schools in BC are members of the FNSA. The FNSA has a mandate to support those schools in creating effective, nurturing, and linguistically and culturally appropriate education environments that provide students with a positive foundation in all academic areas.

The FNSA’s mission is to collaborate with First Nations schools to create nurturing environments that will develop learners’ pride and competence in their First Nations language and heritage and will equip them to realize their full potential, within self-governing First Nations communities.

FNEA has adopted the First Nations Schools Assessment and Certification Process, that is implemented jointly by FNESC and FNSA and was established over two decades ago.

www.fnsa.ca

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British Columbia Ministry of Education and Child Care

FNEA and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care have entered into a number of complementary agreements that set out how they will work together to support PFNs’ exercise of jurisdiction over education on First Nation land, including the BC-FNEA Education Jurisdiction Agreement (August 2022), the Coordination Agreement (July 2023), and the Education Jurisdiction Framework Agreement (July 2023).

Teacher certification and regulation is a significant area of collaboration with BC. While PFNs exercise jurisdiction over the certification and regulation of teachers through FNEA, the Ministry offers expertise and services to support the FNEA teacher certification and regulation process.

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Canada

Canada provides grant funding to FNEA to assist PFNs in developing the capacity to provide K-12 education on reserve land and for FNEA to implement key programs and functional areas in relation to teacher certification and regulation, school certification, graduation requirements, the approval of courses required for graduation, and any other matters related to education that may be agreed to by FNEA and a PFN according to an individual agreement.