QUÉBEC, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- Following yesterday's general election in Quebec, the First Nations Education Council (FNEC) and Institut Tshakapesh congratulate the Parti Québécois on its victory and call on the new government to make the educational success of First Nations and Inuit youth a genuine priority from the outset of its mandate.
After two terms of the Coalition Avenir Québec government, the election campaign should have been an opportunity for a substantive debate about the choices that will shape our collective future. However, the realities and priorities of First Nations and Inuit peoples have been largely absent from public discussions despite the recommendations put forward by members of the Roundtable on the Educational Success of First Nations and Inuit Students.
This silence is all the more troubling given that, in November 2024, Quebec's Auditor General found that the Ministère de l'Éducation was still not doing enough, nearly twenty years after recognizing the achievement gaps affecting Indigenous students. In particular, she noted the lack of support for these students as they transition from schools in their communities to Quebec's school system, as well as the scarcity of learning environments where their culture and identity are fully respected.
These barriers have very real consequences. When a student loses the support, they rely on partway through the school year, when another student can no longer earn her diploma because of inappropriate language requirements or when a professional has to work elsewhere even though their community needs them, life plans are derailed and communities lose the next generation of people they depend on.
"Our young people want to learn, work and find their place. They want to teach, provide care, start businesses and contribute to the growth of their communities. The Quebec government must give them the same opportunities to succeed as other young people, while respecting their languages, cultures and identities," says Denis Gros-Louis, Director General of the First Nations Education Council.
Yet the solutions are well known: continue supporting students, adapt the administrative and language requirements that hinder their academic progress, better equip school staff and fully recognize the autonomy of First Nations and Inuit institutions. The FNEC and Institut Tshakapesh are ready to work with the government to implement these solutions.
The candidates from the various parties we met during the campaign listened and were open to hearing about the challenges our students face. The start of the new term now offers an opportunity to turn this openness into concrete action.
The FNEC and Institut Tshakapesh are therefore calling for a working meeting with the new government and the partners at the Round Table on the Educational Success of First Nations and Inuit Students within the first 100 days of its mandate to establish priorities, set a timeline and monitor the progress being made.
A genuine working relationship with First Nations and Inuit will be measured by the actions taken by the Quebec government. The Quebec government must collaborate with us to develop and implement solutions that will give our young people the means to succeed. Their future must be at the heart of this collaboration.
About The First Nations Education Council
The First Nations Education Council (FNEC) is an association made up of 22 First Nations in Quebec that has been working for more than 40 years toward the recognition of First Nations' right to exercise full control over their education through the establishment of a complete educational system, equipped with the necessary resources that are designed and managed based on their values and cultures. To learn more, visit www.cepn-fnec.com
About Institut Tshakapesh
Institut Tshakapesh, serving its member communities and the Innu Nation, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Innu-aitun (Innu culture) and Innu-aimun (the Innu language). It provides support for the preservation of cultural heritage and language planning, while encouraging artistic expression. Institut Tshakapesh also plays a key role in education, particularly in fostering educational success and strengthening the cultural identity development of Innu youth.
SOURCE First Nations Education Council
For further information: Sonia Roy, Communications Advisor, First Nations Education Council, [email protected]; Dan-Georges McKenzie, Communications Coordinator, Institut Tshakapesh, [email protected]
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