Education Authority
Woodland Cree Education Authority
Empowering our youth through education, culture, and community. At WCEA, we are committed to providing a strong, culturally grounded learning experience that honors our Cree heritage while preparing students for a bright future. Together, we build knowledge, resilience, and opportunity for generations to come.
Mission
Our Mission
“To serve our community by offering comprehensive and nurturing educational opportunities grounded in Cree language, spirituality, and values, preparing students to excel today and beyond in their cultural and academic pursuits.”
Vision
Our Vision
“We excel in delivering exceptional education rooted in Woodland Cree values, language, and traditions to prepare our youth for a future where they are educated, inspired, and supported to thrive academically, culturally, and spiritually within a safe, respectful, and sovereign community.”
Values
Our Values
- Caring for Our Children: We center everything we do on our children’s needs and aspirations.
- Trust and Integrity: We build strong relationships through honest and ethical actions.
- Respect for Our Roots: We embrace the Cree way of life, guided by the wisdom of our Elders and knowledge keepers to uphold our traditions and language with dignity in all we do.
- Advocacy with Compassion: We are unwavering advocates for our learners’ education, well-being, and future.
- Community and Belonging: We foster a nurturing environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
About Us
since 2004
The Woodland Cree Education Authority (WCEA) is committed to providing high-quality education to students across Woodland Cree First Nation #474, located on Treaty 8 Territory. As the governing body for education within the Nation, we ensure that students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 receive a learning experience that blends provincial academic standards with traditional Cree knowledge, values, and language.
We work in partnership with Cadotte Lake School and other community-driven initiatives to foster a supportive, inclusive, and culturally enriching environment for students. Through land-based learning, storytelling, and the wisdom of Elders and knowledge keepers, we empower our youth with a strong sense of identity, purpose, and academic success.
At WCEA, education is more than just academics—it is a pathway to self-determination, resilience, and a brighter future for our Nation. We are dedicated to working alongside families, community leaders, and educators to provide students with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s world while remaining deeply connected to their heritage.
Treaty-based Education
Inform and Educate
Treaty-based education in Canada is an educational approach that aims to inform and educate students about the treaties between Indigenous nations and the Canadian government. This educational focus recognizes treaties as foundational to the history and structure of Canada and aims to address the historical and ongoing significance of treaties in shaping relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Implementation and Goals
Treaty-based education initiatives vary by province and territory, with some regions, like Manitoba and Saskatchewan, leading comprehensive programs. The goal is for all Canadians to develop an awareness of Indigenous rights and responsibilities established by treaties, and to understand how these rights remain relevant today.
Overall, treaty-based education is part of a broader movement to create a more inclusive and accurate understanding of Canada’s history, addressing the knowledge gap around Indigenous peoples’ role, rights, and contributions within Canada’s formation and growth.
Key Elements of Treaty-based Education
Understanding Treaties as Living Agreements:
Treaties are recognized as living documents with ongoing legal and moral implications, not merely historical artifacts. Treaty-based education encourages understanding that treaties were intended to create mutual benefits, partnership, and coexistence, even if they have not always been honored or implemented as intended.
Historical and Cultural Context:
Students learn the historical contexts in which treaties were made, including the perspectives of Indigenous nations who entered into them, as well as the impact of colonization and settlement policies on Indigenous peoples and their lands.
Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation:
Treaty-based education supports Canada’s commitments to truth and reconciliation by helping to address the historical injustices and misunderstandings surrounding treaties. It acknowledges the lasting impacts of colonial policies and emphasizes reconciliation as an ongoing process.
Fostering Respectful Relationships:
This education emphasizes building respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples based on mutual understanding and shared responsibility. It encourages non-Indigenous Canadians to recognize treaty rights as part of Canada’s legal and moral obligations.
Integration Across Subjects:
Treaty-based education is often integrated across various subjects—history, social studies, law, literature, and geography—creating a more holistic understanding of the treaty relationship.
Let’s Learn Together!
Education is more than just knowledge—it’s a journey we take together. At Woodland Cree Education Authority, we honor our past, embrace our present, and build a future where learning is guided by culture, community, and connection. Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or community member, we invite you to grow with us. Together, we create opportunities, inspire minds, and strengthen our Nation.