10 (1) A corporation without share capital, named Mi`kmaw-Kina`matnewey, is incorporated to support the delivery of educational programs and services under this Act. 2. A Community may adopt laws concerning the management and expenditure of Community funds intended to support post-secondary education, as provided for in the Agreement, of the members of the Community, irrespective of their place of residence. In contrast to the dominant Eurocentric school systems and the devastating consequences of residential schools, Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey, a collective of 12 Mi`kmaq communities in Nova Scotia, has become a Mi`kmaq-led community educational authority. Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey achieved this through collaborative governance, effective planning, strategic influence and transformative training of Mi`kmaq teachers. The result has been an environment conducive to Mi`kmaq culture, language and identity, while achieving educational outcomes well above national averages for education on and off reserve. 7 (1) To the extent set out in the agreement, a community shall provide or provide elementary, elementary and secondary education programs and services to residents of its reserve. Agreement means the agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in the Law of Canada and the Mi`kmaq bands of Nova Scotia concerning education, signed on February 14, 1997. (Convention) The lessons, from performing the Mi`kmaq honour song to reading history books about Mi`kmaq culture and traditions, were developed by the Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey Indigenous Education Authority. Nova Scotia is the first jurisdiction in Canada to promote a provincial structure that supports the Mi`kmaw leadership that leads the Mi`kmaw Formation.

Yesterday, Cape Breton University (CBU) and Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey (MK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve access to post-secondary education for the Mi`kmaq. Under this agreement, 17 scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, will be created for Mi`kmaq students with previous post-secondary education who wish to return to university. Scholarships are managed by MK and offered annually for the duration of the two-year pilot project. Five years ago today, the Government of Nova Scotia signed an agreement with mi`kmaw Chiefs to implement the education contract in the province`s public school system. “Teachers want to teach contract building, they`re just afraid of doing it wrong, so we`re trying to develop as much support as possible to create that comfort of being able to teach that,” Prosper said. 6 1. A Community may, to the extent provided for in the Agreement, make the laws applicable to the Community reserve in respect of primary, primary and secondary education. The agreement provides guidance to improve the exchange of information between the Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey education system and the public school system to facilitate the transition of students from one education system to another. Mi`kmaq students attending public schools continue to receive the programs and services they need to succeed, thanks to a renewed five-year education agreement between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey communities.

Integrating Mi`kmaq perspectives into every corner of the curriculum is slow and steady work, says the provincial director of education. We are a united team of leaders, staff, parents and educators who advocate for and represent the educational interests of our communities, and we protect the Mi`kmaq educational and language rights of the Mi`kmaq. Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey (MK) continues to work to improve the quality of education for our people while remaining vigilant to preserve and revive our Mi`kmaq language. Armed with the inspiration of our youth and the advice and guidance of our Board of Directors, Directors of Education, Schools, Staff and Partnerships, MK has made progress, explored new opportunities for academic excellence, and reviewed and improved existing operations and programs. Mi`kmaw Kina`matnewey is governed by a Board of Directors composed of the Chiefs of the participating First Nations and is a dynamic organization that represents the educational interests of First Nations and provides leadership, research, advice and support in the delivery of educational programs and services. .