About Early Learning Child Care​

The Anishinabek Nation Early Learning & Child Care (ELCC) Program supports all 39 Anishinabek First Nations in creating early learning environments where our children, families, and communities can thrive. Our work is grounded in the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) Framework and guided by the strengths, identities, and visions of each Nation. 

We believe that every child deserves to grow up surrounded by love, culture, language, and opportunities to learn in ways that honour who they are. Across Anishinabek Nation, ELCC programming looks different from community to community—because it is built, designed, and governed by First Nations, for First Nations. This First Nationsled approach ensures that ELCC reflects our own ways of knowing, our values, and our priorities for our youngest learners. 

ELCC funding supports a wide range of programs and services, including child care, landbased learning, language revitalization, family supports, professional learning for educators, and communitydriven initiatives that strengthen wellness and belonging. Our role is to walk alongside communities, helping to ensure children receive the highest quality care rooted in culture, safety, and identity.