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.
VISION
Affect positive change for Anishinabek Nation’s communities and individuals in the Labour Market and Early Learning Child Care settings.
MISSION
We set out to meet our vision with our connections and strength for capacity building and accountability to community. We will provide support and sustainable resources to promote achievements in employment and life-long learning in partnership with service providers.
VALUES
STRATEGIC GOALS
Advance
Restore
Maintain
Change
Program growth through development and accountability support to communities.
Honouring community cultural knowledge and creating space for the restoration of culture and language in early years programs.
Ensure program sustainability through program delivery, obligations and understanding with First Nation Leadership and Federal partnerships.
Improve community, employment, education, skill and income levels through individual skills development and employment opportunities.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
The Labour Market Development Department (LMDD) administrative office does not deliver front-line programs and services. The LMDD does provide administrative assistance to the Local Delivery Mechanisms (Employment and Training) & Childcare Centres with advice, support and advocacy, as well as coordinates regular Employment and Training & Early Learning meetings for the professional development of front-line staff.
AGREEMENTS/PROGRAMS
The Department overlooks three main agreements:
Indigenous Skills & Employment Training Program (ISETP)
First Nation and Inuit Child Care (FNICCI)
Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC)