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Thanks to a major gift of almost $2 million from the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), OFNIE has a unique opportunity to improve its programs and grow its pool of expert First Nations and Inuit instructors.

OFNIE is one of seven Indigenous-led teacher-education programs across Canada to receive funding from the RHF through its Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative, which is investing more than $13 million in community-driven and Indigenous-led programs. Made possible by the Mastercard Foundation, the initiative aims to enrich the education system with 10,000 new First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers.

Everything at OFNIE – from program design, recruitment, and development, all the way to graduation and instructor preparation – is done in collaboration with its six partner schoolboards: Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the Cree School Board, the Naskapi Education Committee, the Listuguj Education Directorate, the Kahnawà:ke Education Centre, and the Mohawk Language Custodian Association of Kanehsatà:ke. And the partnerships are growing. This fall, OFNIE will be launching new program deliveries with Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education (MTIE) in Labrador and Gesgapegiag Education Services.

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