2025 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
IIC and CICan Working Together to Remove Barriers to Post-Secondary Education

The Indigenous Institutes Consortium (IIC) and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), issued the following joint statement at the close of the 2025 National Indigenous Education Symposium: 

"For a third consecutive year, the IIC and CICan have successfully hosted a powerful three-day gathering. This year's theme of Economic Reconciliation in Motion: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities, and Foster Inclusive Growth, has brought together over 200 leaders in education, policy, governments, students, and industry to share innovative approaches to Indigenous learner success and community development.  

The IIC represents seven Indigenous-governed postsecondary education, training, and life-long learning institutes in Ontario. CICan is the national voice of Canada's public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs and polytechnics. Together, we recognize the economic, social, and cultural opportunities that come with equitable access to education. 

We acknowledge that for many Indigenous learners there are often geographic, physical, cultural, and financial barriers to accessing and completing post-secondary credentials, and we recognize our role and our responsibilities as two leading post-secondary organizations to work with and for our members to address these inequalities. 

The IIC and CICan are committed to working together to support learner mobility and re-skilling pathways for mid-career transitions into high demand fields, exploring possibilities for national credit recognition and transferability and removing provincial barriers. 

As we look toward the future of post-secondary education, we want to ensure that students have equitable access to education and opportunity to participate in the workforce and prosperity.  

We commit to working together to build bold, sustainable, community-driven, solutions for a stronger and more equitable future."