6th Convention on Perseverance and Academic Achievement for First Peoples

6^th Convention on Perseverance and Academic Achievement for First Peoples

A decade of work, exchanges, collaborations, partnerships, developments in practices, and knowledge has already passed since the launch of the first edition of the Convention on Perseverance and Academic Achievement for First Peoples (March 2014, at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi). 
The second edition of the Convention (October 2015, at the Hotel Le Montagnais in Saguenay), like the first, began with a desire, among First Peoples education officials, to take a general interest in the situation of Indigenous learners and to take stock of developing practices in the Indigenous school world in Quebec. 
From the third edition (October 2017, at the Hilton Hotel in Québec City), the themes were enriched, and the actors of the Convention diversified according to the evolution of contextual realities. Indeed, this event is now part of a social movement and responds to a new institutional orientation, itself in line with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015), the Viens Commission Report (2019), and the Joyce’s Principle (2020). 

Making Your Voice Heard to Find Your Way 

In recent years, our societies have become more sensitive to Indigenous issues and the challenges faced by First Nations and Inuit in education. In addition, while some people still consider First Nations and Inuit as an entity in itself, a uniform block, the diversity of Indigenous profiles is increasingly recognized. This diversity is that of languages, but also of talents, interests, challenges, conceptions of life and life paths. It would therefore be interesting to observe how the educational community is open to the plurality of Indigenous profiles, how it deals with them, welcomes them, and adapts to them. 

Moreover, under the honorary chairmanship of Chief Ghislain Picard and with Alexandre Bacon hosting the event, this year's edition is notable for marking the tenth anniversary of the colloquium, thereby providing an occasion for celebration. Over the years, the Convention has contributed to the development of an Indigenous model of perseverance and academic success, and we invite our partners to envision together a better future for Indigenous learners. In celebrating this first decade of consultation, we highlight Indigenous educational experiences and programs, but also raise the obstacles to self-determination still standing in First Peoples education today.