Plain language summary - Incorporation of First Nations knowledges and perspectives in ELCC training

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

INCORPORATION OF FIRST NATIONS KNOWLEDGES AND PERSPECTIVES INTO ELCC TRAINING PROGRAMS ACROSS CANADA In 2022, the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) undertook an environmental scan of early learning and child care (ELCC) training programs across Canada to determine the extent to which First Nations knowledges, perspectives, worldviews, and approaches were incorporated into ELCC training curriculum. This plain language summary highlights key findings from that scan, including the number of First Nations or Indigenous-designed and -delivered ELCC training programs and requirements to complete courses with Indigenous 1 content across Canada, as well as Indigenous topics covered in training curricula. A more detailed report on the results of this environmental scan can be found in the NCCIH’s publication, Quality care and young First Nations children: An exploration of optimal learning and development in early childhood settings on reserve (Murdock et al., 2025). This report and other related knowledge products are available on the NCCIH website.

1

Indigenous-designed and -delivered ELCC training programs Indigenous-designed and delivered programs are intended for ELCC students who plan to work with young children (0 to 6 years) in a First Nation or Indigenous community setting and are designed and delivered entirely by an Indigenous post-secondary institution. The environmental scan revealed 13 such programs operating in five provinces.

TABLE 1: INDIGENOUS-DESIGNED AND -DELIVERED ELCC TRAINING PROGRAMS Region

# of programs

British Columbia

3

Alberta

3

Saskatchewan

2

Manitoba

1

Ontario

4

While the focus of the environmental scan was on First Nations populations, only a few post-secondary institutions distinguished between First Nations or Indigenous programming. As such, any programs that focused on First Nations specifically or Indigenous populations generally were included. Henceforth, the term ‘Indigenous’ will be used to encompass both First Nations and Indigenous programs and course content.

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Plain language summary - Incorporation of First Nations knowledges and perspectives in ELCC training

Published on Dec 12, 2025

NCCIH-CCNSA

This plain language summary presents findings from an environmental scan of early learning and child care (ELCC) training programs across Canada to determine the extent to which First Nations knowledges and perspectives were incorporated into ELCC practitioner training curriculum. Specifically, it presents a summary of findings on the number of post-secondary ELCC training programs focused on training ELCC practitioners working in First Nations or Indigenous settings, the number of mandatory Indigenous-specific courses and courses with explicitly-stated Indigenous content, the mode of course delivery, the most common Indigenous topics covered in the curricula, and requirements to complete practicums or field placements in First Nations communities.