Media Advisory - Former diplomat Mary Simon to join education leaders exploring challenges in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education - July 8-9, 2013 - Marriott Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario

OTTAWA, July 3, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) 2013 President's Forum is set to shine a light on the various issues in education faced by Aboriginal peoples across Canada. "First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education" will bring more than 150 Aboriginal, educational and political voices together July 8-9 to recognize issues and identify solutions.

"Such a wide array of voices will really allow for a fruitful discussion of the challenges Aboriginal educators and students face on a day-to-day basis," says CTF President Paul Taillefer. "It's an important topic and we're excited to provide a venue for shared ideas about it."

Together, First Nations, Métis and Inuit representatives, teachers, parents, students, researchers, school board members, government leaders in education and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development representatives will examine the needs of Aboriginal students and teachers. Speakers include Mary Simon, Canada's first Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, and Sheelah McLean, a co-founder of the Idle No More movement.

Attendees will also hear participant reflections on Project of Heart, the CTF and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) pilot project, which saw First Nations classrooms twinned with publicly-funded classrooms in a storytelling project to enrich awareness about First Nations' culture.

See the full program: http://www.ctf-fce.ca/Events/?index_id=121317&lang=EN&id=92109

Select presentations will be streamed live via UStream. Follow the event on Twitter at #CTFForum.

The 2013 President's Forum will take place:

When:	Monday, July 8, and Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Time:	8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. (July 8) and 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (July 9)
Where:	Marriott Hotel, downtown Ottawa
Who:	CTF President Paul Taillefer,
	Mary Simon, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami,
	Sheelah McLean, Idle No More movement,
	Tim Thompson, AFN education director,
	Charlene Bearhead, Project of Heart,
	Dr. Pamela Toulouse, Laurentian University, and
	Shelly Tootoosis and Michael Gatin, Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation.

The Canadian Teachers' Federation is an alliance of nearly 200,000 elementary and secondary educators from 16 organizations, 15 Members and one Affiliate Member, across Canada. Follow the CTF on Twitter: @CanTeachersFed and @EnseigneCanada.

SOURCE: Canadian Teachers' Federation

Spokesperson:  CTF President Paul Taillefer

Contact: Francine Filion, Director of Communications 613-688-4314 (office) or 613-899-4247 (cell)