Executive Council
Education and Early Childhood Development
May 26, 2017

Provincial Government Signs Education MOU with Miawpukek First Nation

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Miawpukek First Nation, formalizing a long-standing relationship for sharing resources and supports to complement Mi’qmaq K-12 curriculum and teaching practices.

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, met with Saqamaw Mi’sel Joe, Chief of the Miawpukek First Nation, to sign the MOU yesterday.

The MOU realizes a number of provisions requested by the Miawpukek First Nation. These include:

• Sharing of professional expertise and information with the Miawpukek First Nation to complement the K-12 Mi’kmaq curriculum and teaching practices;
• Access to Provincial Government purchasing prices, where possible, for provincially authorized school resources (such as student texts, teacher resources, learning media, etc.) required to deliver curriculum consistent with provincial standards;
• All Miawpukek First Nation teaching staff are to remain provincially certified educators; and
• The Miawpukek First Nation curriculum will include the provincially authorized curriculum.

Quotes
“I am proud that we have signed this MOU to formalize our valuable relationship with the Miawpukek First Nation. Our government continues to work to support Miawpukek First Nation in delivering high quality K-12 curriculum that is inclusive and reflective of the cultural practices, heritage and traditions of the Miawpukek Mi’kmaq.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“We will continue to work with our counterparts within the Miawpukek First Nation’s Department of Education to ensure Mi’kmaq K-12 students receive the same accreditation as all other students in our province through curricula and teaching that celebrate their culture and heritage.”
Honourable Dale Kirby
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

“This MOU enables the Miawpukek First Nation and the province to collaborate on education matters for mutual benefit. In particular, the Miawpukek First Nation is extremely pleased to avail of the province’s purchasing power and discount for text book purchases for Se’t A’newey Kina’matino’kuom (St. Anne’s School). It also enables us to have access to reasonably priced text books for on-reserve post-secondary students.”
Saqamaw Mi’sel Joe
Chief of the Miawpukek First Nation

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