Indigenous Educators Gather for WIPCE in Auckland

For the first time in two decades, WIPCE returned to Aotearoa and this year’s conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland drew nearly 3,800 delegates from Indigenous communities all around the world. We were so fortunate to be able to send a small delegation of Mi'kmaw Educators to this year’s conference.

Launched in 1987 in Vancouver, Canada, WIPCE began as a gathering of Indigenous educators and knowledge-keepers sharing experiences, hopes and strategies for culturally grounded education.  Over the decades it has grown into a global movement for Indigenous peoples to reclaim, celebrate, and strengthen their languages, traditions, educational practices, and identity.

From November 16–20, 2025 at the Aotea Centre, delegates participated in formal sessions including keynote talks, panel discussions, community presentations, and workshops alongside cultural exchanges, networking, and celebration.

The week opened with a pōwhiri (traditional Māori welcome) followed by a Parade of Nations down Queen Street in traditional attire.  Delegates explored themes from Indigenous‐led education systems and language revitalization, to culture & arts, environment, self-determination, and youth empowerment, all grounded in Indigenous worldviews and lived experience.

Our delegation wanted to share how impactful this experience was to them.

"I had the most amazing experience of my lifetime as an Educator attending WIPCE 2025. In New Zealand, the sessions that I chose were mostly geared towards Immersion. I wish there was more time in each session as they were 30 minutes per session. The one session that stuck with me mostly was, “An Analysis of Immersion Teaching for Indigenous Revitalization”. In this session, they discussed that there are no written words on the walls of the school because it is all oral teaching. Also, they emphasize TPR, Total Physical Response which is a second language method that pairs physical movement to aid with comprehension. This is a method that I have adopted with my Immersion school and I believe in it wholeheartedly. If the students don’t understand you, they will understand the universal action of TPR. I am going to meet with my staff and suggest to them that the written words have to come off. We are an Oral Immersion school."

"Being at WIPCE showed me that Indigenous language revitalization is happening in every corner of the world. Some nations are just beginning, others are far along, but we are all walking the same path with the same goal by protecting and Honoring our languages, and carrying our stories forward."

"As a non-speaker from a non-speaking Mi'kmaw community, it was really important for me to not only attend this conference but to have the education directors attend as well so that we can see the importance of language and culture from other communities across the globe and to bring that home here to us, our communities and to our children.  It is my hope that our education system incorporates more language & culture in our schools, our children need to be immersed in language & culture in order for our Mi'kmaq language & culture to survive.  The most important thing for me was to see and hear that their indigenous students have to learn their proper history, not a history told by non-indigenous people but history told by them, all of their cultural songs and dances and their meanings to know and understand what they mean and why they are doing them."

"The idea that struck me the most was immersion schools that continued supporting their students through the age of 25 or “Grade 18”, making the transition to post-secondary education easier for their students."

" One session that stayed with me focused on revitalizing Indigenous languages through land-based learning. It highlighted how language is not just spoken—it is lived, experienced, and felt. The session reinforced how critical it is to embed language in daily routines, community life, and authentic experiences. However, it was validating to know that my land-based educator was doing grounded activities that were on par or above the programs presented. It inspired me to invite him to present at the next WIPCE"

WIPCE is such a powerful space for solidarity, cultural renewal, and global Indigenous connection. It offers hope that through shared knowledge and unity, Indigenous communities worldwide can shape education that honours their traditions, identities, and futures.

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