Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada Hosts Education Assistant Learning Summit for Local Education Assistants in Northern and Remote First Nations

Press Release

January 24, 2025 – Winnipeg, MB – Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada announces its upcoming Education Assistant Learning Summit, taking place from January 28 to January 30 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This three-day event, held on Treaty 1 territory at the Long Plain Madison Reserve, is part of Gakino’amaage’s Education Assistant Professional Development Program and is tailored specifically for education assistants working in northern and remote First Nations. The program, like all of Gakino’amaage’s initiatives, is offered at no cost to participants and First Nations Community Partners.

The summit will offer sessions rooted in the shared goal of supporting First Nations student success, focusing on Land-Based Learning, Social-Emotional Learning, and strategies for strengthening classroom communities. Cultural activities, including a moccasin-making workshop, reflect the deep connection between tradition and learning, with an Elder-in-residence joining to support these shared experiences.

The 2025 Learning Summit will welcome 34 education assistants from 14 First Nations, including Bearskin Lake First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, St. Theresa Point First Nation, and Webequie First Nation. Participants will explore this year’s theme, “Student Success”, with a focus on the question, “How do we measure

First Nations Student Success?”

“The Education Assistant Learning Summit is a key part of our commitment to strengthening and sustaining First Nations schools by supporting local education assistants,” says Shardae Fortier, Vice President of Programs, Gakino’amaage. “This year’s focus on Student Success highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating achievement in a way that honours First Nations perspectives and priorities.”

About Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada

Gakino’amaage is an Indigenous-led, non-profit organization dedicated to recruiting, preparing, and supporting certified teachers to succeed in northern First Nations. Over the past decade, the organization has partnered with 32 First Nations, impacting thousands of students through community-led programs and initiatives.

Gakino’amaage’s commitment to education extends beyond supporting teachers, with initiatives like the Education Assistant Professional Development Program. These

Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada ∙ 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 550 ∙ Toronto, Ontario ∙ M5T 2C7

programs reflect a broader strategy to strengthen and sustain First Nations schools by fostering local leadership, encouraging professional growth, and empowering educators to make lasting, positive impacts in their communities.

This year, Gakino’amaage celebrates its 10th anniversary, a milestone achieved together with First Nations Community Partners, educators, staff, and supporters. Over the past decade, this collective effort has driven meaningful collaboration, fostered national growth, and embraced the gift of a traditional name that reflects a shared commitment to decolonizing education and honouring Indigenous knowledge.

For more information about Gakino’amaage, visit teachforcanada.ca.

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Contact: Meredith Stapon
Director of Communications
meredith@teachforcanada.ca
416-562-4402

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