Aboriginal early learning and child care: Policy issues

As Canada's Aboriginal groups have larger than average child populations, early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a critical policy issue. Developing ECEC policy that is flexible to accommodate the diverse needs of the Aboriginal community and maintains their indigenous culture is a major concern for all Aboriginal peoples. There is a strong call for an Aboriginal controlled and sustainable ECEC system that adopts a culturally appropriate approach.

In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended that:

federal, provincial, and territorial governments co-operate to support an integrated early childhood funding strategy that a) extends early childhood education to all Aboriginal children regardless of residence; b) encourages programs that foster the physical, social, intellectual and spiritual development of children, reducing distinctions between child care, prevention and education; c) maximizes Aboriginal control over service design and administration; d) offers one-stop accessible funding; and e) promotes parental involvement and choice in early childhood education options.

The benefits of investment in the early years and for Aboriginal families are far-reaching. In addition to commonly discussed benefits of high quality ECEC programs, centres can be significant community hubs, locations where parents can build social capital and seek supportive resources. As Aboriginal populations and children have been found to be the most vulnerable in the Canadian population, ECEC in the more than 600 First Nations and other Aboriginal communities in Canada becomes a vital issue for policy discussion.

This Issue File is intended to promote discussion about how Aboriginal child care features within Canada's ELCC system. It is organized into a section of online resources and a list of useful websites.