First Nation School Board

What First Nation School Board does

First Nation School Board (FNSB) is a publicly funded school board established in February 2022 through school-attendance area referenda, operating 11 public K-12 schools across nine Yukon communities (Old Crow, Watson Lake, Ross River, Haines Junction, Beaver Creek, Whitehorse, Pelly Crossing, Carcross, and Destruction Bay/Burwash Landing). FNSB is the first and only school board in Canada specifically designed to empower Yukon First Nations to govern public education on their Traditional Territories, with each school led by a Leadership Team that includes education leaders from the local First Nation and a Community Committee appointed by local First Nations leaders. The schools follow the BC Curriculum while integrating local First Nations knowledges, histories, languages (including Southern Tutchone, Kaska, Gwich'in, Tlingit, and Tagish), and land-based pedagogy, and serve primary customer segments of Yukon First Nations learners and families, all Yukon learners and families, and educators/staff.

FNSB's instructional portfolio is organized around six core programs — Literacy, Numeracy, Land and Language, Early Learning, Whole Child, and High School — and is supported by standardized resources (UFLI, JUMP Math, Mathology, SpringMath, First Voices, Yukon Native Language Centre) and proprietary tools including the FNSB Assessment Portal and locally designed Clever Fox Card Decks. Technology is positioned as evidence-based and aligned with the Science of Learning literature; the organization emphasizes experiential, land-based, and culturally affirming pedagogy over digital or AI-driven instruction. Programs are delivered through the schools directly, with back-office functions (educator recruitment, payroll, e-Recruitment) routed through the Government of Yukon's e-Recruitment System and the Yukon Association of Education Professionals (YAEP) collective agreement.

FNSB is a government state entity under a tripartite legal framework (the 2021 Agreement Respecting Education and the Establishment of a First Nation School Board in Yukon), funded through government appropriations and 2023 collaboration agreements. Education is provided free to families. The organization generates no commercial revenue: there are no funding rounds, no investors, no M&A activity, and no disclosed revenue figures. Recognized outcomes include the 2025 Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Award finalist status and reported closing of the rural-urban literacy gap as of June 2025.

Name

First Nation School Board

Legal name

First Nation School Board

Website

https://fnsb.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The First Nation School Board is a publicly funded Yukon school board operating 11 K-12 schools across nine Yukon First Nations communities, delivering BC Curriculum integrated with Indigenous languages, culture, and land-based learning under a 2021 tripartite governance agreement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping Resources (State/NAEYC/Head Start) (EDACAJAN)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• First Nations education
• Indigenous language revitalization
• Land-based learning
• Literacy and numeracy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitehorse

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: FNSB is a publicly funded school board established in February 2022 through school-attendance area referenda. It operates 11 public schools across the Yukon as part of the territory's public education system, funded through government appropriations and agreements with Yukon First Nations and the Government of Yukon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Nation School Board (FNSB) operates 11 public K-12 schools across Yukon, Canada, delivering free public education that follows the BC Curriculum while integrating Yukon First Nations knowledges, histories, languages, and cultures. Schools are governed by Leadership Teams that include education leaders from each local First Nation and Community Committees, providing culturally affirming, land-based education to learners from Yukon's 14 First Nations and to all Yukon families.

Product overview

First Nation School Board (FNSB) operates 11 public K-12 schools across Yukon, Canada, serving Yukon First Nations communities. The organization delivers education through a unified portfolio of core programs including Literacy, Numeracy, Land and Language, Early Learning, Whole Child, and High School initiatives. FNSB schools follow the BC Curriculum while integrating local First Nations' knowledges, histories, languages, and cultures. The organization also provides digital tools such as the FNSB Assessment Portal, educator recruitment services, and resource materials including JUMP Math, Mathology, SpringMath, and the Clever Fox Card Decks. The schools operate under local governance models guided by Leadership Teams including education leaders from each local First Nation and Community Committees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chief Zzeh Gittlit School Public K-12 school in Old Crow operated by Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, serving learners from the Teechik (Old Crow) community with education that integrates BC Curriculum with Vuntut Gwitchin knowledge, history, and language.
• Johnson Elementary School Public elementary school in Watson Lake operated by Liard First Nation, providing culturally affirming primary education grounded in BC Curriculum and local First Nations knowledge.
• Watson Lake Secondary School Public secondary school in Watson Lake operated by Liard First Nation, offering high school programming with trades preparation, experiential learning, and ILC support integrated with Liard First Nation culture and BC Curriculum.
• Ross River School Public K-12 school in Tū Łī́dlini (Ross River) operated by Ross River Dena Council, delivering BC Curriculum integrated with Ross River Dena language, history, and land-based learning.
• St. Elias Community School Public K-12 school in Däkwä̀kä̀da (Haines Junction) operated by Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, integrating Southern Tutchone language and CAFN knowledge with BC Curriculum under the philosophy articulated by CAFN Elder James Allen.
• Nelnah Bessie John School Public K-12 school in Beaver Creek operated by White River First Nation, providing culturally affirming education that integrates White River First Nation knowledge and BC Curriculum.
• Grey Mountain Primary School Public primary school in Whitehorse operated by Ta'an Kwäch'än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation, delivering primary education grounded in BC Curriculum and the languages and cultures of those First Nations.
• Takhini Elementary School Public elementary school in Whitehorse operated by Ta'an Kwäch'än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation, integrating BC Curriculum with local First Nations languages, knowledges, and histories.
• Eliza Van Bibber School Public K-12 school in Pelly Crossing operated by Selkirk First Nation, integrating BC Curriculum with Selkirk First Nation language, culture, and land-based learning.
• Ghùch Tlâ Community School Public K-12 school in Carcross operated by Carcross/Tagish First Nation, providing education that integrates Tagish and Tlingit knowledge, language, and culture with BC Curriculum.
• Kluane Lake School Public K-12 school serving Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing, operated by Kluane First Nation, integrating BC Curriculum with Kluane First Nation language, history, and land-based learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• FNSB has statistically higher literacy and numeracy scores compared to non-FNSB schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Government of YukoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Government of Yukon partnered with Yukon First Nations to establish the First Nation School Board through the Agreement Respecting Education and the Establishment of a First Nation School Board in Yukon (signed 2021, enacted February 2022). The agreement enables FNSB to govern education on First Nations' Traditional Territories with support from the territorial government.
• Yukon First Nations (14 member nations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYukon First Nations are the primary partners in governing FNSB schools. Each school's Leadership Team includes education leaders from the local First Nation and a Community Committee appointed by local First Nations leaders. The First Nation Education Commission released 'We Are Our Language' framework guiding K-12 language revitalization.
• Yukon First Nations Education Directorate (YFNED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNSB collaborates with YFNED, which released the 'We Are Our Language' Framework and Action Plan (November 1, 2023) guiding the revitalization of Yukon First Nations languages within K-12 education. FNSB leads the implementation of this language revitalization work across its 11 schools.
• Yukon Association of Education Professionals (YAEP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYAEP represents Teachers, Language Teachers, Principals, Teachers on Call, and Educational Assistants across the Yukon. FNSB refers job applicants to YAEP for information and works within the collective agreement between the Yukon Government and YAEP.
• Skills Canada YukonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNSB partners with Skills Canada Yukon to support learners in engaging with trades programs and skills development, including supporting work placements and the Outdoor Power Equipment Technician course.
• Champagne and Aishihik First NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFN partnered to establish and govern St. Elias Community School in Däkwä̀kä̀da (Haines Junction). CAFN's Language Intensive program trained language teachers including Erin Jim. CAFN Elder James Allen contributed to the school's educational philosophy.
• First VoicessupportingTechnology or IntegrationFirst Voices is an online platform used by specific Yukon First Nations communities to manage and maintain language resources. FNSB promotes First Voices as a language resource for educators, families, and learners.
• Yukon Native Language Centre (YNLC)supportingTechnology or IntegrationYNLC is the primary location for Yukon First Nation language resources. FNSB promotes YNLC resources to educators and communities as part of its language revitalization mission.
• Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNSB has worked with CYFN, including having Jessica Gatensby serve as cultural support worker for CYFN before joining FNSB's Land and Language team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC): BC-based organization that supports First Nations in designing and delivering K-12 education programs. Comparable as a First Nations education governance/policy body operating schools and programs under community direction.
• First Nations Education Commission (Yukon): Yukon body that released the 'We Are Our Language' framework and oversees First Nations education policy. Directly comparable as a Yukon-specific First Nations education governance counterpart to FNSB.

Others

• National Indian Education Association (NIEA): US-based advocacy organization advancing Native American/Indigenous education policy and culturally based education. Comparable as a stakeholder network engaged in Indigenous K-12 education reform and recognition.
• Indspire: National Indigenous-led charity investing in Indigenous education through bursaries, scholarships, and K-12 resources. Comparable mission (Indigenous educational success) and serves a similar learner population across Canada.
• Council of Yukon First Nations: Political organization representing Yukon First Nations, with overlapping staff and policy interests in education, language, and culture. Comparable as a strategic stakeholder in FNSB's governance ecosystem.

Regional players

• Cherokee Nation Education Services: Tribally operated education programs serving Cherokee learners in Oklahoma, including language and culture revitalization. Comparable as a large-scale Indigenous education system with community-controlled schooling.
• Nunavut Department of Education: Operates public K-12 schools across Nunavut with a strong Inuit cultural and language mandate. Comparable as a northern, culturally grounded public education system serving Indigenous learners in small, remote communities.
• Alaska Gateway School District: Remote Alaska school district serving predominantly Indigenous (Gwich'in, Athabascan) communities with culturally integrated curriculum. Comparable as a remote, Indigenous-serving public school system operating in a small-population northern jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• Yukon Department of Education: Operates the broader public school system in Yukon alongside FNSB. Directly comparable as the other provider of public K-12 education in the same territory under a different governance structure.

Emerging players

• Martin Family Initiative: Indigenous education organization focused on K-12 outcomes and school transformation in partnership with First Nations. Comparable as a complementary Indigenous-education reform effort working alongside school boards and communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-nation-school-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Nation School Board