Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care

The Government of Canada believes that all children in Canada deserve a real and fair chance to succeed, and that access to high-quality early learning and child care provides a solid foundation for future success.

For First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families, culturally appropriate programs that take into account their cultures, languages, traditions, values and customs can be crucial in creating a foundation for a child’s cultural identity and sense of worth.

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework

In 2017, the Government and Indigenous partners undertook a comprehensive engagement process on Indigenous early learning and child care. Over 100 engagement activities were conducted across the country, reaching over 3,000 participants through town halls, regional and national meetings, and online surveys.

Informed by this engagement, the Government worked with Indigenous partners to co-develop the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) Framework.

The IELCC Framework is the foundation for ongoing collaborative work between the Government of Canada and Indigenous partners to achieve a shared path forward. The Framework guides all actors in the early learning and child care field and aims to achieve the shared vision that all Indigenous children should have the opportunity to experience high-quality, culturally strong early learning and child care.

The IELCC Secretariat, within Employment and Social Development Canada, serves as the federal focal point on IELCC and coordinates horizontal activities with three other federal departments including:

• Indigenous Services Canada
• the Public Health Agency of Canada; and
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Secretariat also works closely with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners through national, regional and bilateral partnership tables to help achieve the vision set out in the Framework. These shared efforts and investments are collectively referred to as the IELCC Transformation Initiative.

Related links

• Background and overview of the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative
• The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) Framework
• Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Transformation Initiative terms and conditions for contributions
• Engaging Canadians on Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (closed)