Mentors in Memoriam: OFNIE's Edward J. Aronhie:nens Cross (1943-2021)
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It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Edward J. Aronhie:nens Cross, an educational leader and pivotal member of the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education (OFNIE).
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Edward J. Aronhie:nens Cross (1943-2021)
Eddie Aronhi:nens Cross鈥檚 tremendous contributions to 苹果淫院 and to Indigenous education span decades. Eddie Cross鈥檚 career in education began in 1966 and has since changed the educational landscape for Indigenous learners locally and across Canada.
Eddie's vision, leadership, and partnership with OFNIE in advancing Indigenous teacher education will be most remembered here, at 苹果淫院's Faculty of Education. As Director of Instructional Services and, subsequently, Director of Education, Eddie was instrumental in developing OFNIE鈥檚 teacher education and language and literacies programs. Under Eddie鈥檚 leadership, OFNIE offered its first 鈥淎boriginal Literacy Certificate鈥 in Kahnaw脿:ke and its flagship program, the Certificate in Education for First Nations and Inuit. It is thanks to Eddie鈥檚 trailblazing work, several cohorts of Kanien鈥檏eh谩:ka teachers completed their teaching degrees through 苹果淫院 Education and now fill the classrooms and staff rooms of Kahnaw脿:ke elementary schools. His incredible work has forever changed OFNIE for the better. He will be dearly missed.
To read a more detailed tribute to Edward J. Aronhie:nens Cross, please see the article by OFNIE's Jim Howden and Stephen Peters in .