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OFNIE Marks 50 Years of In-Community First Nations and Inuit Teacher Education

Published: 8 May 2025

The Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE) celebrates its 50th anniversary in September 2025. Its origins go back to early 1975, when Professor Jack Cram of 91ºÚÁÏ꿉۪s Faculty of Education was invited by the Quebec government to help design an education program for First Nations and Inuit teachers. As a result of his work, in-community education programs began to be offered in Kuujjuaq in the fall of 1975. By 1978, eight graduates were teaching in Inuktitut in Quebec schools, and 91ºÚÁÏÍø had begun collaborating with Kativik Ilisarniliriniq to co-develop teacher education programs. The program has since grown considerably. 

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