Trevor Thompson had never imagined himself working in a school, but when an education assistant (EA) position opened up in North Spirit Lake, he took it for one simple reason—his daughter.
“She wasn’t attending school enough, and I thought if I started going, she would come with me,” he explains. “And it worked. Her attendance has been better.”
Five months into his role as an EA for Grade 3/4 students, Trevor has found joy in connecting with his students—some of whom are his own nieces and nephews. “They listen to me,” he says, smiling. “And I like working with the kids.”
At first, he was unsure about attending the Learning Summit, but when his daughter encouraged him, saying she would be proud if he went, he decided to take the leap.
“I’m happy I did,” he reflects. “It’s been really fun.”
Education Assistant Program participants Trevor Thompson from North Spirit Lake and Rubina Moise from Sayisi Dene First Nation connect at the EA Summit—an opportunity for EAs from different First Nations to build peer connections, share knowledge, and learn from one another.
Trevor was especially drawn to a session led by Lyle Wood, a principal in St. Theresa Point First Nation, one of Gakino’amaage’s Community Partners. In this session on building classroom community, participants wrote their names on paper and reflected on the gifts they brought to the classroom.
This, along with Social-Emotional Learning and Land-Based Learning, helped Trevor realize that his work goes beyond academics—he is part of a support system that uplifts students every day.
The Learning Summit, which brought together 30 Education Assistants representing 13 First Nations, reinforced Trevor’s growing confidence in his role and the impact he could have in his community. This event is a key component of Gakino’amaage’s Education Assistant Program, designed in collaboration with First Nations to enhance professional skills, strengthen local teaching capacity, and support student success. Currently, 34 Education Assistants are part of this year’s program, benefiting from in-person learning opportunities, ongoing mentorship, and career advancement pathways.
Trevor Thompson, Gakino’amaage Teacher Development Manager Meena Prabhakar, and Rubina Moise discuss what student success looks like in their classrooms. Centered on the theme ‘How Do We Measure First Nations Student Success?‘, the EA Summit creates space for meaningful conversations about supporting students in ways that reflect their communities’ strengths and priorities.
A key component of the Education Assistant Program is its online Communities of Practice, intentionally designed to foster connection among EAs while deepening their skills. These sessions provide practical teaching strategies and dedicated space for EAs to share challenges, successes, and insights from their classrooms. A session led by Susannah Walker will focus on actively engaging learners through a trauma-informed and Indigenous lens, reinforcing approaches that are relevant and responsive to First Nations students. Additionally, each EA will have at least two one-on-one check-ins with a Gakino’amaage team member to receive personalized support, strategies, and resources tailored to their needs, students, and community.
Programs like the EA Program are part of a broader vision at Gakino’amaage, where First Nations voices guide the design and evolution of our initiatives. The next step? Identifying ways to strengthen Indigenous teacher certification pathways, ensuring more Indigenous educators are leading classrooms, and working to reduce the systemic barriers that have historically limited these opportunities.
Are you an EA looking to gain new skills, connect with fellow educators, and make a lasting impact in your school? Explore the Education Assistant Program and see how you can get involved.