Facilitators of Innovative Education, Leadership Development & Sustainability (FIELDS) is a First Nations-owned and managed company that has delivered education and career development services to Indigenous learners in Canada and the U.S. since 2013. The mission of FIELDS is to serve as a catalyst in cultivating self-reliance, leadership, and prosperity in Indigenous populations through providing resources to facilitate skills and trades training, higher education achievement, and successful transition to careers. Our initiatives enable many young people to move into the light of emotional empowerment and autonomy; enlightened youth find hope reclaiming their traditional heritage of self-reliance and prosperity and embrace a brighter future. FIELDS supports student success through a holistic plan of preparation, academic support, and mentoring services which honor native culture, languages, and principles of sustainability.

The foundation of FIELDS activities and programs start with the socioeconomic, cultural, human development, and socioemotional foundations within the Native society. Understanding the complexity and depth of these dynamics than searching for the best, and appropriate, resources, principles, and programs make FIELDS a unique resource to tribal councils, bands, education leaders, and local economic development authorities.

FIELDS Wholistic Development Model
Medicine Wheel

For centuries governments, churches, colleges, universities, and foundations, have made efforts to recruit, and engage indigenous people to participate in skills training, education, and economic development with marginal degrees of success. In many cases these efforts were based on the paradigm that “we know what’s best for you.” Recently the perspective has begun to change. Native communities are engaging in their own self-government, socioeconomic and community development initiatives. These initiatives are not directed by other forms of government but are self-directed. There is a recognition by nonindigenous governments, educational institutions, and economic development specialists that successful initiatives to address the multigenerational disadvantaged population will come from within the community. These organizations may recognize that they have services and resources to support this development, however, the initiatives, plans, implementation, and ongoing management must come from within and directed by the Native society.