Cultural/Educational Centres Program

AANDC's Cultural Education Centres Program (CECP) is a proposal-based program that funds approximately 100 First Nation and 16 Inuit centres to help preserve and strengthen their unique cultures, traditions and languages. This program also provides the avenue to raise awareness among community members and the general Canadian public and is intended to contribute to improved educational outcomes for First Nation and Inuit students.

The program goals include providing funding to cultural education centres in undertaking work that will lead to:

• culturally relevant curricula for First Nation and Inuit schools; and,
• an enhanced cultural environment and understanding within communities.

The funded activities:

• focus on school-age children;
• include resources for classroom instruction and after-school programs; and,
• may include evening classes for adults and seasonal events for community members, including cultural demonstrations and tours targeted at the general public.

First Nation Cultural Education Centres

387 Communities are served by the 100 First Nation Cultural Education Centres which are receiving funding under the CECP. Of the 100 centres:

• 55 are administered by the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres   (FNCCEC)
• 45 are administered by AANDC

Inuit Cultural Education Centres

There are 16 Inuit centres receiving funding under the CECP to undertake cultural and programs for Inuit communities. The Inuit Tapirriit Kanatami  , the national Inuit organization, also receives funding under the CECP.