Principal

The Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc. (MFNERC) is a First Nations-led education resource centre established in 1998 by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to provide second- and third-level services, including education, administration, technology, language, and culture support, to First Nations-run schools across Manitoba. Headquartered on Swan Lake First Nation with sub-offices in Winnipeg and Thompson, it serves 58 schools from 49 First Nations, focusing on culturally relevant programming for elementary and secondary students. MFNERC is not a single school but a centralized support organization offering school division-type services such as professional development, pedagogical support, curriculum development, accreditation assistance, and capacity building for First Nations staff. In 2016, it established the Manitoba First Nations School System (MFNSS), Canada's first First Nations-designed school system with provincial-level funding, initially supporting up to 2,220 students from participating First Nations through an Education Governance Agreement with the Government of Canada. Its mandate emphasizes long-term education reform, including development of a First Nations curriculum and enhanced systems to improve academic standards, retention, completion, and graduation rates. MFNSS prioritizes holistic, culturally relevant education that nurtures lifelong learners, with resources for language programming, special education, and subjects like math and IT.