We are the only firm, Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, awarded successive MERX contracts by the federal government to deliver Aboriginal Awareness training sessions to federal government employees. For the past six years we have been providing training to Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canada School of Public Service, Service Canada, NR Can, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada as well as school boards and private sector companies.
This is without a doubt the most effective, comprehensive and professional one-day session in the country. And it is the only training in Canada delivered by a three-member, senior First Nations, Métis and Inuit team and an Elder. One and a half day sessions, an executive half-day session and one day Inuit Awareness sessions are available upon request.
School boards, departments of education, colleges and universities across Canada are creating or updating policies and programs to ensure that their Aboriginal students will succeed. They are also looking at the best policies and programs that will foster greater awareness among all students; leading to a true understanding of the Aboriginal people’s rich history and place in Canadian society.
Our team knows and understands the intricacies of curriculum development and navigating higher education; be it a trade or a Masters Degree. And our work with school boards and the two national foundations dedicated to the residential school legacy is leading the way in the area of re-engineering the school system for Aboriginal students. Be it policy development, program review or researching best practices, the FPG team can support the educational sector to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal students.
Creating capacity in communities across Canada with the skills to train others is essential. To accomplish this goal, our train the trainer sessions allows participants to focus both on the process of facilitating the activities, as well as exploring the actual content of the activities.
The process of exploring the issues and leading the activities also helps participants develop their expertise in group facilitation and leaves behind the necessary skills in the community.
'An evaluation of the sessions has been completed, and here is an excerpt of responses: 99.4% of respondents agreed (44.24%) or strongly agreed (55.15%) that – my understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples: their history, culture, traditions, spiritualities and values has increased after taking the course; 97.58% of respondents agreed (38.79%) and strongly agreed (58.78%) that attending this orientation session helped increase my respect and appreciation for the Aboriginal peoples and culture.'