The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is honoured to announce 12 new Indigenous-led partnerships focused on recruitment and retention of Indigenous teachers. Spanning from Labrador to Yukon, the projects reflect diverse, locally grounded approaches to education from land-based degree programs and new language revitalization tools to digital mentorship platforms and in-community teacher education.
This year's investments by RHF, made possible with support from the Mastercard Foundation, total $8.6 million and will accelerate progress toward a shared goal of supporting 10,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers across Canada. The RHF is helping to build an education system where Indigenous educators are supported, valued, and equipped to lead in their communities through innovative initiatives led by Indigenous peoples and allies.
"These partnerships continue to show what's possible when Indigenous communities and institutions lead the way," says Roberta Jamieson, RHF Board Director and Co-Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education (NACITE). "Indigenous teachers bring strength to their students, schools, and Nations, and this initiative is one way we honour their impact."
The RHF is grateful for the guidance of NACITE and the work of an independent Indigenous adjudication committee who evaluated submissions and selected the successful projects.
These awards are being granted to the following recipients:
- First Nation School Board and Save the Children Canada (Yukon)
- Nunavut Bilingual Education Society and Inhabit Education (Nunavut)
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) - Inuit Nunangat University (Inuit Nunangat)
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) (British Columbia)
- Aboriginal Teacher Education Program, University of Alberta (Alberta)
- Faculty of Education (NITEP), University of British Columbia and Lax Kw'alaams First Nation (British Columbia)
- First Nations University of Canada (National)
- Louis Riel Institute (Manitoba)
- Manitoba Indigenous Teacher Education Partnership, University of Manitoba and Frontier School Division (Manitoba)
- Matawa Education, Achieving the Dream Through Education (Ontario)
- Endaayan Indigenous Language Teacher Education Program, Gakino'amaage: Teach For Canada (Ontario)
- Indigenous Teacher Education Program-Labrador, Nunatsiavut Government, Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education, and Memorial University (Labrador)
Collectively, these 12 projects will:
- Prepare and certify hundreds of Indigenous teachers
- Reach and support thousands of students and educators
- Strengthen instruction in Inuktitut, Innu-aimun, Michif, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, nêhiyaw Cree, and S wx̱wú7mesh sníchim
- Reinforce Indigenous-led education systems across Canada
"Indigenous youth are telling us loud and clear: they want to learn from educators who reflect their communities and worldviews," says Dr. Annette Trimbee, RHF Board Director and NACITE co-chair. "We are investing in projects where Indigenous values, languages, and knowledge systems shape the learning experience. This is about supporting educators who carry cultural wisdom into classrooms and creating spaces where all students can thrive."
"Supporting Indigenous teacher education means much more than training teachers it's about nurturing Indigenous knowledge, language, and cultural continuity," says Rachel Mishenene, RHF Director of the Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative and an Indigenous educator herself. "These projects are led by Indigenous communities who know best how to positively impact the next generation of educators to teach in ways that are deeply connected to identity, and honour distinct worldviews and practices."
"We've heard from Indigenous youth and communities that more Indigenous teachers are needed to ensure safe, culturally grounded and positive learning environments," says Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director, Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. "This initiative reflects a commitment to creating real pathways for Indigenous students to see themselves as educators and leaders in their own schools and lands. We are excited to see these new partnerships confirmed as tangible steps towards the realization of 10,000 new Indigenous teachers for Canada."
For more information: Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative - Rideau Hall Foundation
