Alberta's First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) leaders and the Government of Alberta have established a First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Partnership Council to guide the future direction of FNMI education in Alberta. The Partnership Council's efforts will identify and complement the work already being done in FNMI education in our province and is Alberta's next step stemming from discussions at the Summit on Aboriginal Education hosted by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) in 2009.

The Partnership Council's membership includes the Ministers of Education, Aboriginal Relations and Advanced Education and Technology; Grand Chiefs of Treaties 6, 7 and 8; and the Presidents of the Métis Nation of Alberta and Métis Settlements General Council. The ministers and the Aboriginal leaders have invited eight community representatives with knowledge of and experience in First Nations, Métis and Inuit education to participate on the Council. The structure of the Council is such that it will always be led by three co-chairs — one from First Nations leadership, one from Métis leadership, and one from government. The Partnership's first co-chairs are Treaty 8 Deputy Grand Chief Rose Laboucan, Métis Nation President Audrey Poitras, and Minister of Education Dave Hancock. The three co-chairs are pictured here holding the signed, formal Partnership Agreement.

Council members are working together to identify and co-ordinate strategic actions to which the partners can commit, individually and collectively, to align programs and services to meet the needs and unleash the full potential of FNMI learners in the province. Already, work is underway by partners to identify, consolidate and share promising practices in FNMI education that are happening in Alberta but are not being employed effectively in all relevant jurisdictions. The Partnership will also focus on reducing the learning and achievement gaps between on-reserve and off-reserve Aboriginal students by examining issues such as the appropriate sharing of student information and equitable funding. Also important to the work of the Partnership is ensuring that FNMI students complete their K-12 education with the competencies necessary to transition to post-secondary studies and the workforce.