Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve
The Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve (AHSOR) program supports child development and school readiness for children living in First Nations communities on reserve.
On this page
About the program
AHSOR activities support learning and developmental needs of young children living in First Nations communities.
The program focuses on:
- education
- health promotion
- culture and language
- nutrition
- social support
- parent or guardian, family and community involvement
Children in AHSOR take part in activities that encourage a love of learning, establish positive health and wellness habits, and boost children's self-confidence through connections to their language, community and culture. These are crucial elements of resilience and their presence improves Indigenous peoples' ability to thrive and be healthy.
AHSOR also supports parents, families and community members as the primary and most important teachers in a child's life.
Child development programs
The Government of Canada plays a large role in Indigenous early learning and child care, both on and off reserve, through 3 main programs:
- Indigenous Services Canada's AHSOR, which serves First Nations children and their families on reserve
- Public Health Agency of Canada's Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC), which serves First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families living in urban and northern communities
- Employment and Social Development Canada's First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative (FNICCI), which delivers child care services to First Nations on reserve and Inuit families
Feature stories
Fun with food, the focus of Farms to Fork project in Abegweit First Nation, PEI