Stories – Leadership

Sturgeon Lake First Nation community members reflecting on Harvest Days during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The description of the Story. This content will accompany the Title on the website. La communauté de l’Université McGill à Montréal présente une longue histoire en termes de collaboration avec les ...

An Elder, who is preparing Anishinaabe people to be responsible, knowledgeable about their culture, creation and to show us our own personal role in Creation.

Délina Petit Pas is the Chair and Director of the Mi'kmaw Language and Culture Programs with the Mi'kmaw Heritage Research and Restoration Association (MHRRA), which is a not-for-profit society bas...

The Think Indigenous initiative inspires educators to think about education through an Indigenous knowledge lens.

The annual National Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp at First Nations University of Canada offers youth an opporunity to learn about business. 

Developing models for nation-specific education through language revitalization and community engagement.

Manitoba First Nations School System (MFNSS), begun in 2017, has been empowered to engage in Indigenous led education within the province.  Established by the Manitoba First Nations Education Resou...

Winnipeg School Division’s Aboriginal Graduation Coaches program provides multi-year support and guidance to students on their journey from Grade 9 to graduation.

Hailey Prince details the Nak'azdli Cultural Centre's aims and initiatives of capturing and maintaining Dakelh traditional knowledge through methods of traditional knowledge transfer from Elders. T...

Anishinaabe Elders who are constantly working towards reconciliation and bringing traditional knowledge to their people.

Examples of formal and informal Indigenous Education from a 'student of life' who describes the importance of language and land-based learning.

Kakwiranó:ron Cook talks about the First Peoples House and McGill University’s initiatives to support Indigenous students in their academic studies and life on campus.

Learning nēhiyawēwin through language acquisition methods that have informed Bringing nēhiyawēwin Home, a program designed by Belinda Daniels and offered through READ Saskatoon. 

Professor Don McCaskill has been a Professor at Trent University for 35 years. He describes the fifty year history of Canada's first Indigenous Studies Department and his perspectives on Indigenous...

School director and teacher, Diana MacLean, discusses what makes Annapolis Valley First Nation School so successful in helping students achieve success.

Goldy Simon discusses the positive impact that the Annapolis Valley First Nation School has had on her son.

First Nations owned and operated post-secondary education institution.

Inuit educational and cultural institution

« Pimishka ! » est un programme d'intervention par la nature et l'aventure qui a permis d'amener des jeunes de la communauté faire une expédition de canot-portage dans le territoire ancestral.

To teach culture, history and music. To have access to what could be considered a privilege offered at the library, pow-wow grounds, school settings and at the band office, throughout the year. All...

The Iqaluit Music Society creates access to music education through various music camps that include Inuit traditional music as well as contemporary music education.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association communicates with the communities in the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut to mentor them in designing Inuit, cultural youth programs.

SD 73, Brenda and the students take up a challenge of learning, teaching and building a canoe out of Cottonwood.

Reconciliation projects and exchanges

Youth Empowerment Movement

Elizabeth Sault seeks to provide holistic educational opportunities to community members with the aim of violence reduction.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) offers educators opportunities to learn about Indigenous peoples through professional learning and curriculum resources.  

The MNBC Ministry of Youth and Métis Youth British Columbia (MYBC) offer an annual Revitalizing Our Culture (ROC) youth forum which seeks to enhance their leadership and employment skills.

Aboriginal Environmental Leadership Circle aims to promote and enhance environmental management in Indigenous communities.

The Aboriginal Leadership Certificate allows Indigenous students to gain practical tools and knowledge to work at management and administrator levels within Indigenous organizations across Canada. ...

Albert Dawson has participated and completed the Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program (AETP).

The Language Revitalization Program, facilitated by Fran Brown in Bella Bella, BC, involves Heiltsuk language learning activities.

Terry Reid is dedicated to learning the cultural traditions and languages from his Heiltsuk and Oweekeno speaking grandmother who is a knowledge keeper and knows much about traditional medicines.

Post-Secondary Education, Indigenous Education

Ways of being on the land come with great responsibility.

Ashley Buch speaks about the importance of identity, space, and fostering relationships with Niagara College staff to support Indigenous students.

The Indigenous Land Guardians program is designed to train local Dene people to become knowledgeable in their local culture and traditions as well as current conservation and monitoring practices.

The Yukon Indigenous Community Climate Change Champions is a workshop/initiative for Indigenous youth all over the Yukon

Reconnecting high risk youth through carving and traditional knowledge to find balance.

This transformational program allows First Nations mentors/Master Carvers to go into Yukon schools and educate all students about traditional art forms and more.

The Wiichihew Program is offered by the Mid-Island Métis Nation and serves Indigenous Students in high schools, alternative learning programs, and Vancouver Island University. It supports students ...

Audio interview with Indigenous Educator Penny Cardinal-Kotash perspective from Treaty 8, High Level, Alberta.

Bridging the western educational world with local First Nation culture and traditions .

The Principal of the Dene Tha Community School, Carlito Somera, discusses the school's commitment to holding fall and winter Cultural Camps for students in grades 4-12.

Ce programme est dédié aux hommes de 18 ans et plus. Le responsable est Louis Lalo et les activités se déroulent chez le responsable.

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Interviewer : Yasmine Fontaine et Marie-Alexe Charland

The SENĆOŦEN Survival School and Language Apprenticeship programs value our history and teach the ways and beliefs of our W̱SÁNEĆ homeland and worldview.

Dechinta means "in the bush" in many of Dene languages in the Northwest Territories. Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning believes in supporting self-determining and sustainable Northern commu...

BushKids is exploring the ethical space between Indigenous education and Western education principles in Yellowknife, NT.

Meeka is a well-known teacher of education, healing, and Inuit culture. She started teaching children in 1971, and moved onto adult education at Nunavut Arctic College for 18 years. Meeka believes that elder knowledge from experience is necessary have a foundation for living an Inuit life as our ancestor did. She hopes that healing and education from Inuit go a long way.

Community building

The Youth Action Council (YAC) in the Prince Albert region works with First Nations youth in grassroots communities by giving them voices as leaders in community healing initiatives. 

Rikki Wylie is part of the management team at Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Center. Located in Nanaimo, BC, Tillicum Lelum has a number of programs that are used to help the community. Rikki...

Le projet d'accompagnement scolaire et social (PASS) est mis en oeuvre par le Comité de femmes de Mashteuiatsh. Il s'agit d'un programme de Passeport pour ma réussite (Pathways for Education Canada...

The programs at the Niagara Regional Native Centre work together and Philip works to raise cultural awareness and foster wellbeing on a community and individual level.

Perry McLeod-Shabogesic of Nipissing First Nations talks about his journey with both learning and teaching traditional knowledge. Through a short interview, he explains the importance of understand...

Interview with Demi Mathias on the birch bark canoe as a form of cultural resurgence and on the supportive community of the Trent University Native Association.

Youth of today society, a Youth centre providing kids with important skills

Skahendowaneh teaches components of Trent University’s Ph.D. program and Indigenous Studies undergraduate program in the areas of Indigenous Knowledge, Iroquoian culture and language.  

KDS Vision Statement: “BUILDING OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE TODAY BY TEACHING AND LEARNING THE DENE WAY.” "KDS is committed to providing quality education for our students by concentrating on four compon...

An on-the-land camp for K-6 for East Three elementary school. A focus on teaching traditional bush skills while on the land. Some activities include pulling fish nets, cutting the fish and preparin...

Dechinta’s model of program delivery is innovative and responsive to the needs of diverse learners. We offer a setting where families can learn together through our Chekoa Nı̨ htł’èkǫ ̨̀ Deè (KidsU...

Neecheewam Inc. strives to cultivate life skills through the development of relationships and culturally appropriate teachings.

Urban Hide Tanning in Somba K'e

The program, offered by University of Winnipeg, creates a welcoming environment for Indigenous and new-comer students from the neighbourhood who have never been on campus. It offers topics such as ...

Assistant Professor, Joanne Goodpipe offers courses that create leaders in hospitality, tourism, gaming, and entertainment.

"Returning of our ways and of being together." Indigenous Education is like a story and we as a People, have a variety of roles to play within it to bring forth "excellence."

Lutsel K'e Dene school is working collaboratively to support holistic Dene education.

''Several on-the-land projects across the Northwest Territories are getting a major financial boost.

On the Lan...

Les mini-écoles de la Santé sont un projet initié par le Dr Stanley Vollant et maintenant piloté par Dr. Éric Drouin. Ce projet est issu d'une collaboration entre le Comité interfacultaire opératio...

Le Centre des Premières Nations Nikanite (CPNN) de l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi oeuvre depuis 1991 à assurer la formation universitaire de communautés des Premières Nations. Il s’agit d’une ...

La bibliothèque Maskwa ("écorce de bouleau" en abénaki) est implantée dans la communauté abénakise de Wôlinak (en Mauricie). Elle a rouvert ses portes en 2017, sous la gestion du Grand Conseil de l...

Verna J. Kirkness is from Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba and is an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia.  She is an influential leader and pioneer in Indigenous ...

The Indigenous Education Office at the Ontario Ministry of Education aims to support provincially funded school boards and authorities in the implementation of the FNMI Education Policy Framework.

NITEP, the Indigenous Teacher Education Program in the Faculty of Education at UBC, has celebrated graduating over 400 educators in its 44 years of existence. Part of NITEP’s success can be credite...

The Executive MBA in Indigenous Business and Leadership in the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University has been in existence for five years. The program is intended for mature leaders ...

The Kenanow Bachelor of Education is a northern-based and Aboriginal-focused teacher education program. The program melds the wisdom and guidance provided by Elders in northern Manitoba with the ce...

Kirk Anderson, Dean of the Faculty of Education of Memorial University talks about the Inuit Bachelor of Education (IBED) program offered in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, in partnership with th...

En 1990, John-Abbott était l’un des premiers cégeps à collaborer avec les communautés autochtones et institutions telles que Cree School Board et Kativik pour offrir des services spécifiques et ada...

Man Up Against Violence seeks to inspire men to become advocates of violence prevention.

Interview conducted on January 31st in the First Nations House at The University of Toronto.

''Shannon Simpson has only just stepped into a leadership role at First Nations House and she's already ...

The Indigenous leadership group at St.Augustine School uses the Circle of Courage model to develop student leadership skills and support positive youth development. This student group is accessible...

'Su' luqw 'a' Community Cousins are Aboriginal Students attending Vancouver Island University. As mentors, the cousins work together as a team and put ideas together to bring events and programs to...

The Matawa Learning Centre uses a holistic approach to education in order to help young Indigenous learners from the Matawa Communities in Northern Ontario.

Fostering indigenous leadership, values and skills through cultural initiatives. Dene Nahjo is a Dene Collective based in Denendeh. Fostering indigenous leadership, values, and skills through cultu...

A discussion of Early Childhood Education services offered at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre that has a focus on intergenerational teachings

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is a postsecondary institution in Kamloops, B.C. that offers research opportunities, programs and certificates designed specifically to support and engage Indigenou...

Steven Baranyai of Serpent River First Nation, Ontario, discusses how his initiative, Madwejiwan, uses Indigenous music, instruments, and regalia as traditional and cultural knowledge teaching tool...

Unique in Quebec, Nunavik Sivunitsavut offers one-year courses on Inuit and circumpolar history, politics, governance, culture, and language. Students explore global modern issues from an Inuit per...

A one year university access program for Canadian Aboriginal Students who may not be prepared to enter a faculty through regular admissions. This is not an upgrading program, but a full-time univer...

The Banuts'ukuih (meaning, canoe coming to shore in Lheidli) project is an example of the experiential learning opportunities led by Indigenous instructors in partnership with the University of Nor...

Neeched Up Games plays a unique role in educating students and teachers about Indigenous history and culture in Saskatchewan.

Lori Whiteman, Executive Director of the Treaty Education Alliance, describes their land-based programs and services.

Rose Roberts, Education Development Specialist (Indigenous Engagement and Education) with the Indigenous Voices shares with us the importance of the initiative. 

The health educator at the All Nations Healing Hospital in Fort Qu’Appelle, SK, provides an overview of programs and services offered to Indigenous communities and schools within Treaty 4 territory.

Tsuut'ina Nation language director Steven Crowchild speaks on the direction that his program is heading and the future of the Tsuut'ina Nation language program

Tsuut'ina Nation Post Secondary program offers insight on their program and student success​.

Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program is a partnership between Vancouver Island University, Heiltsuk Tribal Council and North Island College. Funding provided by both the Government of Canada thro...

The Qqs Project Society runs a variety of land based education programs for children and families. The Qqs Projects Society: - targets youth ages 8-15 and families. - consists of a camp, library, c...

Dedicated to providing an unforgettable experience and in the empowerment of artistic people who are creative in different disciplines; art, drawing, carving, cooking, music, and more. Art is multi...

The White Cloud Head Start Program provides Indigenous pre-school children with a positive sense of themselves, their culture and offers them an opportunity to develop and learn different skills to...

An awards ceremony to acknowledge the Aboriginal Youth talents and accomplishments in Northwestern Ontario.

The Native Access Program is a nine-month transition program for Indigenous students.

IBEP strives to create a place where Indigenous business students can thrive. Through their efforts, Indigenous students are ensured space within Asper School of Business, and their student associa...

The following is an interview with Dave Sloan, the superintendent of schools for School District 60: Peace River North. Mr. Sloan has 30+ years of experience in the field of education and spent ove...

This interview with Pat Jansen provided a great overview of some of the great work being done to support Indigenous students in School District 60: Peace River North. It especially highlighted some...

How do you stretch the boundaries of the definition of education to meet the needs of students in the North Peace area?

Leading Thunderbird Lodge partners with the Twisted Wire Ranch’s Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Program in order to holistically treat youth struggling with addictions.

Students at UNBC are building community connections to improve the quality of life of Indigenous students through social events and project partnerships.

How an education program from New Zealand was adapted for use in two north end Winnipeg Schools to increase graduation rates and develop Métis identity.

A non-linear adult learning program in Manitoba that has a literacy focus in partnership with the University of Winnipeg.

With a variety of programs support for the Inuit community comes from the Manitoba Inuit Association.

Aboriginal Resource Centre of New Caledonia provides a variety of student services as well as works to Indigenize the curriculum.