Indigenous Knowledge and Engagement in Early Childhood Education

Call for Proposals

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) invites Indigenous consultants, Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous Institutes, Indigenous-owned businesses, and Indigenous consulting teams to submit proposals to support the Outdoor and Land-Based Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education initiative.

This national initiative aims to strengthen the integration of Outdoor and Land-Based Pedagogies within post-secondary Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs across Canada by supporting respectful Indigenous engagement, relationship-building, and the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing throughout the project.

Guided by More Than a New Course: A Framework for Embedding Outdoor and Land-Based Pedagogies in Post-Secondary Early Childhood Education Programs, the initiative recognizes that meaningful implementation requires more than curriculum change alone. It also requires respectful Indigenous engagement, strong community partnerships, institutional commitment, and opportunities for collaboration across the sector.

As part of this work, CICan is seeking an Indigenous partner to provide Indigenous engagement, relationship-building, and advisory support, including the development of a National Indigenous Engagement Plan that will guide respectful, reciprocal, and culturally responsive engagement throughout the four-year initiative.

Why Participate?

The successful proponent will have the opportunity to:

Lead the development of a National Indigenous Engagement Plan;
Strengthen respectful relationships with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous Institutes, and Indigenous organizations;
Support the meaningful integration of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing throughout the initiative;
Contribute to Communities of Practice, implementation projects, professional development, and knowledge mobilization activities;
Help shape national resources and guidance that will benefit post-secondary institutions across Canada; and
Advance reconciliation through Indigenous-led approaches to Early Childhood Education.

Current Opportunity

CICan is currently accepting proposals from qualified Indigenous proponents to support Year 1 (2026–2027) activities of this four-year initiative.

The successful proponent will work collaboratively with CICan, participating institutions, Indigenous communities, and project partners to develop the National Indigenous Engagement Plan and provide strategic Indigenous engagement support that will help guide the initiative through 2030.