Strategic Plan
1.0 Preamble
In 2007, Matawa First Nations established three broad regional priorities for the next 5 years. These regional priorities are building Economic Strength, Educational Strength and Social Strength and they highlight areas of importance and opportunity for the people of Matawa First Nations. By building capacity in each of these three areas, Matawa First Nations will progress towards the types of communities that the people of Matawa envision for the future - they are an expression of the outcomes that are important to a high quality of life and sustainable communities. The Matawa First Nations are now tasked with developing strategic plans to provide direction in each of these three priority areas. Moreover, the Matawa First Nations communities and Tribal Council must now strike a balance in their activities to ensure that work progress is made equally in each of these priority areas.
Education is one of the three strategic strengths that the Matawa First Nations are seeking to build over the next 5 years. Education is considered to be vital to the progress of individuals and the Matawa-region as a whole by the present day leaders. It is widely supported that education will provide the foundation for success in school, at work and throughout the community and region — and that it will foster innovations that directly benefit the economy, society and individuals’ quality of life. Education is also considered the key to personal opportunity. It is agreed that education gives people confidence, improves their self-reliance and allows them to discover and achieve their full potential while improving overall economic and social well-being.
The previous Matawa First Nations Education Strategic Plan was completed in 2001. Since that time, the community needs, priorities, and opportunities in education have continued to change for all Matawa First Nations. This changing situation required discussion and investigation so that the Matawa Education department could sharpen its focus accordingly and create a plan to build Educational Strength over the next 5 years.
