In discussion with the community, four goals were defined: education; preparing for work; participating in the provincial economy; and, individual and community well-being. The objectives were announced in 2001-02, and the objectives now include timelines for achieving meaningful change in each of these areas.

Community Priorities for Education

In 2001, community participants told us their priorities for the future included primary, secondary and post-secondary education with an emphasis on assisting Aboriginal children to stay in school until graduating from high school. Community participants also told us that three objectives in the 1999 document all dealt with success in education. For this reason, only one objective now includes high school retention, high school completion, and student achievement rates. We are developing specific performance measures for the new objective to track progress in each of these areas.

Goal One: Enhance successful entrance and completion of primary, secondary and post-secondary education for Métis and off-reserve First Nations people. 

Our Objectives

1. Increase the success of Métis and off-reserve First Nations children and youth in the provincial primary and secondary (K-12) school systems over 10 years.
2. Increase literacy rates, academic upgrading and life skills of Métis and off-reserve First Nations people over 20 years.
3. Increase enrollment and completion rates for Métis and off-reserve First Nations people in university, technical education, apprenticeship and training programs in 5 years.
4. Increase Aboriginal children’s readiness to learn, cope and problem-solve in the provincial school system over 10 years.

Community Priorities in Preparing for Work

Community participants told us that their priorities for the future include skills training and work preparation so they can actively participate in the provincial workforce.

Goal Two: Prepare Métis and off-reserve First Nations people to participate in a representative provincial workforce.

Our Objectives

1. Increase enrollment and completion rates for Métis and off-reserve First Nations students in apprenticeship, training and post-secondary education programs that relate to growth sectors of the economy and sectors with stable employment opportunities over 20 years.
2. Ensure Métis and off-reserve First Nations youth make an effective transition from school to employment and training in 10 years.

Community Priorities - The Provincial Economy

Community participants told us their priorities for the future include jobs and economic development to facilitate family stability.

Goal Three: Ensure representative workforce participation by Métis and off-reserve First Nations people in the provincial economy.

Our Objectives:

1. Increase the proportion of employed Métis and off-reserve First Nations people in the labour market over 20 years.
2. Achieve a representative presence of Métis and off-reserve First Nations people in the provincial public service by 2010.
3. Achieve a representative presence of Métis and off-reserve First Nations People in economic development, business involvement, and as employers in 10 years.

Community Priorities for Well-being

Community participants told us their priorities for the future include youth (keeping children off the streets through sport and recreation activities), the rising incidence of diabetes among Métis and off-reserve First Nations people, culturally-sensitive social services, and housing.

Goal Four: Improve individual and community well-being of Métis and off-reserve First Nations people.

Our Objectives:

1. Expand access to culturally appropriate social services and reduce the need for such services among Métis and off-reserve First Nations people over 20 years. 
2. Increase Métis and off-reserve First Nations peoples’ participation rates in sport, culture and recreation activities over 20 years.
3. Better meet the health needs of Métis and off-reserve First Nations people to improve their overall health status over 20 years.
4. Increase Métis and off-reserve First Nations peoples’ representation on health governance structures over 20 years.
5. Develop culturally appropriate restorative justice strategies with Métis and off-reserve First Nations people and reduce crime rates over 20 years.
6. Enhance the safety and security of Métis and off-reserve First Nations women and children by reducing victimization over 20 years.
7. Reduce the incidence of repeat offending among Métis and off-reserve First Nations people through re-integrative and rehabilitative correctional services over 20 years.
8. Increase the proportion of Métis and off-reserve First Nations people living in adequate, affordable housing over 20 years.