Community Education is a concept that acknowledges that education does not stop at the school. Community Schools in Saskatchewan are schools that have been designated by the provincial government due to the high enrolment of First Nations youth. These schools are not only schools but places where other community organizations come together to support families. Part of their mandate states:

Community Education is a unique education concept that embraces these beliefs:

• Education is a lifelong process;
• Everyone in the community – individuals, businesses, public and private agencies – shares responsibility for the mission of educating all members of the community; and
• Citizens have a right and a responsibility to be involved in determining community needs, identifying community resources, and linking those needs and resources to improve their community. (Community Schools – About us)

One of the questions that we reflected on during Module one was whether educational goals are different in First Nations communities. The goal of our educational system is to create healthy, contributing members of society and I believe that this is universal goal. I think the route to this goal is necessarily different for First Nations youth and we are learning how to acknowledge the differences. Our system isn’t perfect but schools with frameworks in place to support First Nations youth and families are starting the process of healing for First Nations Communities.