Northern Practicum Program - Gakino'amaage: Teach For Canada

Get Involved

Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada is looking for teacher candidates who are interested in taking part in our Northern Practicum Program.

Gakino’amaage: Teach For Canada’s Northern Practicum Program connects teacher candidates with short-term teaching placements in the northern First Nations that Gakino’amaage serves.

What the program offers

Opportunity

Throughout your practicum, you will develop professionally as a teacher, learn from incredible educators, and advance in your career. You'll gain hands-on experience working with all types of students. In some cases, placements may lead to permanent employment.

Connection

You will build unique relationships within northern schools, while supporting lessons and extra curricular activities. Join a small, tight-knit staff team, and community dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of First Nations students.

Experience

You will receive opportunities to deepen your understanding of culturally responsive pedagogies, and land-based education. Going North will challenge you to adapt as an educator, and try new things—from outdoor lessons to hunting and fishing, building lodges, beading, and learning the local language.

Why Participate?

Gain meaningful experience teaching in a First Nation classroom, while helping to fulfill the short-term staffing needs of remote Indigenous communities. Gakino’amaage‘s Northern Practicum Program will allow you to share your gifts, hone your craft, and gain hands-on teaching experience, all while finding out whether the North is right for you.

What surprises new teachers to the North the most?

Freedom to teach outdoors
Small class sizes
The ability to try new things and creatively expand upon the curriculum
Daily collaboration with other faculty members

Are you interested in learning more, or taking part in Gakino’amaage’s Northern Practicum Program? Please fill out the form below. With questions, email programs@teachforcanada.ca.

What Teacher Candidates are Saying

“Teaching in this community has been a truly life changing experience. I have had the opportunity to learn more about myself, both as an individual and as a teacher, from an amazing group of staff and students.”

– Participating Teacher Candidate

“In my 5 weeks, I learned so much about teaching and how important structure and routine really are to building a classroom. This experience allowed me to experiment with new teaching styles and really create a presence in the classroom that I believe comes from experience and comfort. I don’t believe I would have been able to grow as much as I have personally or professionally if it were not for the flexibility and freedom I was allowed within this community to really fine tune my skills.”

– Participating Teacher Candidate

“Every day of placement was a new learning experience for me, and I believe that I have grown significantly as a teacher.”

– Participating Teacher Candidate

Education Partners

“I had always wanted to go North but wasn’t sure what the best way to do this was. When I found the Northern Practicum Program, it seemed like a dream come true—a way to pursue this goal with the support of Gakino’amaage.”

– Maya Davidson, Teacher Candidate, God’s Lake Narrows First Nation

Read Maya's Story