Professional Lives and Initial Teacher/Educator Education Experiences of Indigenous Early Childhood Educators, Child Care Workers and Teachers in Northern Ontario

Abstract

Analysis of focus group and narrative data, together with a review of initial educator/teacher education programs designed for northern Indigenous educators/teachers, provide implications for culturally appropriate programs that address the unique needs of northern Canadian Indigenous educators and teachers. The professional trajectories and initial teacher/educator education experiences of five Indigenous early childhood educators and teachers provide insight into the challenges of becoming credentialed and the outcomes of accredited programs designed in collaboration with northern Indigenous leaders to respond to the challenges.