Cultural Challenges for School and Social Participation in Canada's Indigenous Reserves

Using the example of the Atikamekw community of Manawan, this chapter will show the value of the bilingual (and bicultural) Atikamekw primary school system, introduced in 1992, as same as the problems the Atikamekw youth is still facing in order to be graduated. Besides, educational initiatives in the community that enhance the status of the language will be presented. The paper is supposed to contribute to the understanding of challenges and chances of the Indigenous people to participate in the Canadian and Quebec society, and it aims to give an overview of linguistic and cultural participation possibilities for First Nations in the Provincial educational system.