Aboriginal education has been a part of the work of CMEC since it was made a priority by ministers of education in 2004.
Since that time, CMEC has:
- undertaken significant work in support of Aboriginal education data collection and analysis;
- created a best-practices database for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit education;
- begun work on teacher training as it relates to Aboriginal education; and
- established an ongoing dialogue with national Aboriginal organizations (NAOs) and with the federal government on a variety of Aboriginal education issues.
CMEC was also the catalyst for two unprecedented national gatherings:
- In February 2009, the CMEC Summit on Aboriginal Education brought together ministers of education and of Aboriginal affairs, national and regional Aboriginal organizations, federal government representatives, and other stakeholders to discuss issues related to Aboriginal education.
- More recently, CMEC hosted the December 2011 Educators' Forum on Aboriginal Education, which brought together educators and researchers from across the country to engage in face‐to‐face dialogue, exchange ideas with their colleagues and peers, and network on Aboriginal early childhood and K–12 education.
A new Aboriginal education strategy is currently being developed by CMEC which will see ministers continuing their work together on pan-Canadian data collection and research and on teacher training. CMEC will also be making further efforts to facilitate information sharing among key Aboriginal education stakeholders and will continue to engage with the federal government on Aboriginal education issues.
In late spring 2013, CMEC will be welcoming a delegation of Australian officials to share information on Aboriginal/indigenous peoples in Canada and Australia.