IISD Paper: The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Education in First Nations Schools in Manitoba

Oct 8, 2010 | Corporate Member News

» Natalie Swayze, IISD, 2010.

Paper, 53 pages, copyright: IISD

This study was undertaken to explore and develop an understanding of what progress has been made towards encouraging and supporting First Nations schools in Manitoba to undertake sustainability programming and initiatives during the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The goal was to identify successes as well as challenges, while developing recommendations for future changes where needed and strategies to overcome any existing gaps.

Work on this study was carried out in close consultation with Manitoba Education and Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC).

The study calls for the following:

  1. MFNERC and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) should consider the development of a federal strategy, funding approach and implementation process for Education for Sustainable Development in First Nations Schools across Canada.
  2. Manitoba Education should consider facilitating increased networking and dialogue between the lead agencies for the UN DESD in Canada and INAC.
  3. Manitoba Education should consider working with the Council of Ministers of Education Canada to include provisions, where possible, for collaboration with INAC and First Nations schools in the Pan-Canadian ESD Framework for Collaboration and Action.
  4. MFNERC should consider examining existing sustainable development resources from Manitoba Education to determine whether they need to develop more culturally relevant materials for First Nations schools.
  5. MFNERC should offer professional development and training workshops for First Nations education staff.

Access the paper here. 

About the International Institute for Sustainable Development

The world is challenged by a changing climate, biodiversity loss, abject poverty and environmental degradation. What can make a difference? Good ideas. Creativity. Passion. Innovation. The achievement of change.

IISD is in the business of promoting change towards sustainable development. As a policy research institute dedicated to effective communication of our findings, we engage decision-makers in government, business, NGOs and other sectors in the development and implementation of policies that are simultaneously beneficial to the global economy, the global environment and to social well-being.

In the pursuit of sustainable development, we promote open and effective international negotiation processes. And we believe fervently in the importance of building our own institutional capacity while helping our partner organizations in the developing world to excel.

Established in 1990, IISD is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization with a diverse team of more than 150 people located in more than 30 countries. Through our dynamic portfolio of projects, we partner with more than 200 organizations throughout the world. To learn more about our history, please visit the IISD Timeline.

Click here to learn more about our project work and programs, which are guided by our strategic institutional directions. And please visit our IISD Linkages site to follow our coverage of international negotiations on environment and development.

IISD is registered as a charitable organization in Canada and has 501(c)(3) status in the United States. IISD receives core operating support from the Government of Canada, provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Environment Canada, and from the Province of Manitoba. The Institute receives project funding from numerous governments inside and outside Canada, United Nations agencies, foundations and the private sector.

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