Kinoomaadziwin Education Body

The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB) is the central administrative structure for the Anishinabek Education System and distributes education funding provided by the federal government to the Participating First Nations (PFNs). The KEB takes direction from the PFNs to support the implementation of the Regional Education Councils (RECs) educational priorities, while working with the PFNs to establish system-wide education standards and manage education relationships with the Ontario Ministry of Education.

The Participating First Nations will work together through the KEB to identify and manage their educational priorities and the systems’ governance. Currently, there are 13 Directors selected by the First Nations to the Board of Directors to oversee the work of the KEB. A Finance Committee will oversee the distribution of education funds received from Canada.

KEB website

The Anishinabek Education System

The Participating First Nations (PFN) under the Anishinabek Education System (AES) will enact education laws that govern the AES and the delivery of programs and services.

Under the Anishinabek Education System, Participating First Nations are:

  • Promoting Anishinaabe culture and language;

  • Implementing programs and services to improve student retention rates, academic achievement and well-being;

  • Establishing and maintaining system-wide education standards that support the transfer of Anishinabek students between the Anishinabek Education System schools and the provincial education system schools; and

  • A system of accountability to First Nation members.

The Anishinabek Education System will have secure and predictable funding from the Government of Canada under a new education funding agreement. The Participating First Nations will have funding to:

  • Continue to operate schools on-reserve;

  • Continue the tuition agreements with local school boards;

  • Support student-focussed educational programs and services that incorporate Anishinaabe culture, language, history, knowledge and values;

  • Continue to provide funding support for Anishinabek students to get university degrees, college diplomas, or trades certificates and licenses;

  • Address special education needs;

  • Set-up and operate the Anishinabek Education System; and

  • Develop curriculum and educational resources for the Anishinabek Education System; among other things.

In addition, the Participating First Nations will not lose out on future federal investments in First Nation education.  There is a process to review future federal funding investments in First Nation education and include any new money as part of our education funding agreement.

Anishinabek First Nations can top-up education funds from their own revenues without affecting their federal funding for education. The federal government funding for education will not be reduced because a First Nation tops-up their education funding.

Who is included?

  • 24 Anishinabek First Nations in Ontario

  • Approximately 27,100 Anishinabek members

  • Approximately 2,000 students on-reserve from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12

AES website