The Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission, and the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi are proud to underline the academic success of 49 students of the First Nations of Quebec in the fields of youth intervention and home care.

Youth Intervention

In collaboration with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, after a two-year partnership process, the FNQLHSSC and the UQAC established an undergraduate degree program, which is unique in Canada, the “Aboriginal People Youth Intervention Training Programme”.

Culturally and pedagogically adapted to the teaching and learning modes of the First Nations, and offered in both official languages, this training has enabled 34 students from 18 communities to live an innovative process of continuing education that promotes proximity in the field of youth intervention.

Various strategies (cultural, pedagogical, linguistic, technological, and administrative) were developed by the training team and allowed a success rate of over 90%.

Homecare and Family and Social Assistance

The second program that was offered, in collaboration with the Commission scolaire de l’Estuaire, is related to the full-time training program “Homecare and Family and Social Assistance”, which includes a theoretical and practical component. The particularity of this program is that the theoretical part was provided mostly by videoconference. Fifteen students from six communities have passed their training from the Centre de formation professionnelle de Forestville. They were accompanied, for the workplace internship component, by First Nations instructors trained in the field.

Education in First Nations communities is often associated with dropout rates. It was thus important for us, partners in these training projects, to highlight the success of these men and women who have completed their studies and especially to point out this personal realization that is quite noteworthy.