Indigenous Education Councils

Indigenous Education Councils advise Boards of Education on programs and services for Indigenous students and on the integration of Indigenous world views and perspectives, in particular those of First Nations in whose territory Boards of Education operate schools.

In 2023, FNESC and the Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC) co-developed legislation with the purpose of improving the outcomes, attendance, and experience of First Nations learners attending BC public schools. The School Amendment Act, which received Royal Assent on November 8, 2023, reset Indigenous Education Councils (IECs) across BC’s 60 public school districts, requiring that each district establish an IEC.

To support the implementation of this initiative, FNESC and ECC also co-developed a Ministerial Order, Policy, and a template Terms of Reference for IECs. These documents are compiled in FNESC’s School Act Amendments resource, available for download on the FNESC website.

The reset of IECs responds directly to Action 4.3 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, which states that the Ministry of Education and Child Care will co-develop and implement a framework for the involvement of Indigenous Education Councils in school district financial planning and reporting.

Purpose of IECs

As set out in the IEC Policy and in section 87.001 of the School Act, each Board of Education must establish and maintain an IEC for the following purposes:

  • Advising the Board on any matter relating to:

    • Providing comprehensive and equitable educational programs and services to Indigenous students
    • Improving Indigenous student achievement
    • Integrating into learning environments Indigenous world views and perspectives, in particular those of the First Nations in whose territory the Board operates

  • Advising on grants provided under the School Act in relation to Indigenous students

  • Approving plans, spending and reporting of targeted grants related to Indigenous students

  • Advising the board in relation to the distinct languages, cultures, customs, traditions, practices or history of the First Nations in whose traditional territory the Board operates, through advice from the IEC members representing those First Nations.

FNESC developed the Proposed Topics for Indigenous Education Councils in BC Public Schools resource  to support First Nation members of IECs in advocating for their learners and improving public education in British Columbia.

See also School Act Amendments.