Indigenous Excellence
Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative
The Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative supports students, educators, and families to learn First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, cultures, traditional values, contemporary lifestyles and traditional knowledge systems across all learning environments through authentic engagement; one of the four policy directives articulated in Mamàhtawisiwin - The Wonder We Are Born With; An Indigenous Education Policy Framework.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in and learn about cultural teachings, experiences and Indigenous languages. Elders and Knowledge Keepers in schools will support development and delivery of Indigenous worldviews by sharing traditional knowledge, teaching practices and protocols to enhance the connection between families and schools. They will also provide supports to create a culture of understanding and respect.
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning, along with 11 school divisions, piloted the Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative in 33 schools from January 2022 to June 2022 to increase school division capacity for respectful and relational partnerships with Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
On April 26, 2022, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning announced $1.6M to support province-wide implementation for the 2022/2023 school year. This included an annual Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative Symposium to promote shared and collective community learning, as school divisions requested opportunities to learn from the engagements and events within the Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative pilots.
On Thursday, November 17, 2022, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning was pleased to invite Elders and Knowledge Keepers working alongside school divisions, Elders and Knowledge Keepers that are part of the Schools Advisory Council, Indigenous Excellence Advisory Council Members, Community Consultation Participants, Superintendents, and Indigenous Education Leads to the First Annual Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative Symposium in Winnipeg. Over 230 attendees enjoyed presentations and discussions.
The findings are included in the summary, The Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative Symposium – What We Heard 2022.
Guidelines informed by symposium feedback, talking circles with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, evaluation findings from the Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative School pilots, conversations with Indigenous Education Leads, and the Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Advisory Council to support school division capacity for respectful and relational partnerships are under development.
Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools: Guidelines (
1.28 MB)
Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools: Guidelines - Summary ( 100 KB)
The Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative embeds learning strategies and actions, articulated as authentic involvement in Mamàhtawisiwin: The Wonder We Are Born With—An Indigenous Education Policy Framework, to collectively realize the vision for all Manitoba students to succeed, no matter where they live, their background, or their individual circumstances.
These guidelines recognize and hold up parents, families, and grandparents as the first teachers who carry and share teachings to support children to come to know where they come from, where they are going, why they are here, and who they are.
Elders and Knowledge Keepers in Schools Initiative Advisory Council Members:
- Dr. Mary Wilson
- Elder Carl Stone
- Elder Gordon Walker
- Elder Linda Schatkowsky
- Grandmother Myra Laramee
- Grandmother Ivy Chaske
- Grandmother Martha Peet
For more information, please contact ie@gov.mb.ca
