Indigenous and non-Indigenous early learning and child care workers in Canada

Educators who are part of Indigenous children’s own communities can play an important role in providing them with early learning experiences that reflect their cultural heritage and traditions. This study examines the sociodemographic and employment characteristics of early learning and child care (ELCC) workers who are First Nations people, Métis or Inuit. Using 2016 long-form Census data, two occupational groups were studied – early childhood educators and assistants (ECEA) and child care providers (CCP). Comparisons were also made with non-Indigenous ELCC workers in the same occupational groups.