Chiefs of Ontario

First Nations Education, Languages and Special Education Forum

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Save the Date

The Chiefs of Ontario Education Sector are hosting the 2026 Education, Languages and Special Education Forum, taking place November 3–5, 2026, at the Valhalla Inn and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay, ON. This year’s theme, “Learning Across All Stages of Life”, reflects a holistic First Nations understanding of learning as a lifelong, interconnected journey rooted in language, culture, and community.

Date and Time: November 3-5, 2026, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST

Location:  Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre,1 Valhalla Inn Rd, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6J1

Who should attend: First Nation Education and Language Educators, Special Education Resource Teachers, Educational Assistants, Advocates, Directors, Technicians and Administrators

Registration: This event is now sold out.

Accommodations: Room Blocks are now closed.

Agenda: Download Provisional Agenda (Last Updated November 3, 2026)

Livestream: CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!

*Due to unforseen circumstances, the livestream will not be available for the remainder of the Education, Languages and Special Education Forum. Recordings will be uploaded to the Chiefs of Ontario assembly page when they become available.

Please Note: Vendor and Exhibitor tables are now sold out. Thank you for your interest and support.

 Documents and Resources

Resources

Call for Presentation Abstracts - Closed

Vendor and Exhibitor Tables - Full

Travel Claim Instructions - Download Here

Direct Deposit Form - Download Here

Travel Claim Template - Download Here

Day 1 Presentations

Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program

Data Use in Strategic Planning and to Inform Instruction and Programming

Building a Schoolwide Approach to Social-Emotional Learning and Bullying Prevention

Supporting Students who are Blind, Partially Sighted, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind

When We Support the Whole, We Support the Child: A Community Approach to Special Education

Building an Anishinaabemowin Curriculum Through Land-Based Learning, Identity, Culture, and Seasonal Teaching

Day 2 Presentations

From Vision to Practice: Advancing Community-Led Pathways for Indigenous Language Teachers at First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)

Creating Change Through Structured Literacy and Explicit Instruction: Our Journey So Far.

Lac Seul Education Authority (LSEA) Land-Based Learning

Math P.I.T.: Planning and Integrating Technology into Classrooms to Support Learning Gaps

Addressing the Specific Needs of First Nations Students in Ontario’s Publicly Funded Schools: Practical Strategies for Meaningful Change

Day 3 Presentations

University of Winnipeg Anishinaabemowin Program: Creating New Speakers

Mikinaak Onigaming School: Healing Together and Reassessing the Steps To Be Taken

Meeting Materials

  • Forum Booklet

    View the conference booklet here

    Download

  • Meet The Presenters

    Presenter Bio’s Here

    Click Here

  • Workshop Abstracts

    View the workshop abstracts here

    Click Here

  • Event Feedback Form

    Complete the event feedback form here. Deadline to submit is November 20, 2026.

    Click Here

Support Contact Information