March 16 - March 17
Learning First Peoples Spring Institute
The Learning First Peoples Spring Institute, hosted by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association, is intended to support teachers to bring quality, authentic First Peoples teaching and learning into BC classrooms. The sessions will introduce resources that focus on themes, issues, and topics of importance to First Nations learning and informed by the First Peoples Principles of Learning. These sessions will also support effective implementation of the new Indigenous-focused graduation requirement.
At the session, participants will receive a printed copy of the teacher resource guide, collaboratively explore its units, discuss implementation of the lessons/activities, and participate in collegial discussions with other educators. Sessions must be selected individually.
Eligibility
First Nations school, public school and independent school teachers are eligible to attend. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of each participant. Maximum 10 per school district per session.
Sessions & Descriptions
Day 1:
English First Peoples Gr. 10-12 Teacher Resource Guide
Founded upon the First Peoples Principles of Learning, English First Peoples courses for Grades 10-12 offer all BC students the opportunity to explore First Peoples’ worldviews through written, visual, and oral literature. The courses were developed through the collaboration of FNESC and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. It is notable that English First Peoples (EFP) 12 is fully equivalent to English 12 for post-secondary entrance requirements. The EFP 10-12 Teacher Resource Guide (2018) has been revised to reflect the revised BC curriculum and incorporates recently-published First Peoples literature. At this workshop, teachers will receive a copy of the resource guide, discuss its use, participate in an activity from the guide, and see our display of First Peoples literature. This workshop will also include draft units from the new EFP 10-12 Teacher Resource Guides (due to be released in Winter 2025)
Day 2:
BC First Peoples 12 Teacher Resource Guide
FNESC and FNSA’s resource, the BC First Peoples 12 Teacher Resource Guide, is intended to support students and teachers of BC First Peoples 12. The resource has eight thematic units: Here, Now; Story and Storytelling; Honouring the Children; The Power of Names; Acknowledging Rights; Food, Health, and Wellness; Resources and Economies; Maps and Borders; and Taking Action. Participants will receive a copy of resource guide, collaboratively explore its units, discuss implementation of its lessons, and network with other educators.
Day 3 Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST) First Peoples Teacher Resource Guide (K-12)
The Applied Design, Skills and Technologies First Peoples Teacher Resource Guide (K-12) is scheduled for release in the summer of 2025. The session explores how First Nations’ knowledges and perspectives can be recognized and included in the diverse courses that fall under the ADST umbrella and the session will provide hands-on learning opportunities. The resource has the following thematic units: Oral Traditions and the Land; Digital Storytelling, Nature’s Colour Wheel: Dyes and Paints of BC First Nations; Coast Salish Weaving and Coding; Clothing, Design and Identity; First Nations Textiles: The Art of Salmon Leather; First Nations Food Studies; First Nations Fishing Technologies; First Nations Technologies of Fire; First Nations Technologies in Wood; Conscious Housing; and Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Tourism. This session is designed for K-12 ADST teachers of K-12 but has applicability to other K-12 curricular content.
Registration
- Registration fee: $50 per session. You may select 1 or 2 sessions
- Credit card: Credit card is accepted online during registration or phone in credit card payment to CivicInfo at 250-383-4898.
- Cheques: Payable to First Nations Education Steering Committee c/o CivicInfo Mail to: CivicInfo BC, #203 – 4475 Viewmont Avenue, Victoria BC, V8Z 6L8.
- Participant name must be included with the cheque.
- Registration Deadline: February 25, 2026
- Registration fees must be received by Marcy 3, 2026 or your registration may be cancelled.
- No refunds for cancellations made less than 30 days before the event; resources will not be mailed to those who do not attend.
Accommodation
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, 7551 Westminster Highway, Richmond
Book by February 24, 2026 for the group rate of $209 + tax. Limited rooms are available at the reduced rate.
Reservations: 1-800-663-0299, Quoting “FNESC Learning First Peoples Spring Institute”
Schedule
Day 1 and Day 2: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Breakfast (8:00 am) and lunch provided.
Health and Safety
Please stay home if you are feeling unwell. Only registered participants are eligible to attend.
Event Contact
Toll-free 1-877-422-3672, P: 604-925-6087
DATE:
Monday, March 16, 2026
START TIME:
12: 00 am
LOCATION:
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, 7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC, V6X 1A3
