April 22, 2026

Eabametoong First Nation community will be building a new school to replace its John C Yesno Education Centre, which was lost to arson in 2024. Chief Solomon Atlookan said that the school will be constructed in an area that will also include a development adding 300 homes to the community. The community’s children have been learning in a temporary school since November 2024. In a social media post, a band councillor said that a blessing ceremony was held before the preparation work for “thanks to the land and protection for all of the crews that will be working on the project.

First Nations University of Canada is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Originally known as Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, FNU began as a small institution with its operations scattered across various locations. In 2003, it received its new name after the Regina campus opened on the nearby atim kâ-mihkosit (Red Dog) Urban Reserve, resulting in the partnership between Star Blanket Cree Nation on Treaty 4 Territory. “We’ve definitely proven that we have many unique things to offer,” said Blair Stonechild, one of the first official instructors. “We also provide an environment that is culturally relevant and a community type of atmosphere that really enables Indigenous students to thrive as well as many non-Indigenous students who come here and they want to learn about our culture and our history. To celebrate the anniversary, FNU released a new logo that it will use throughout the year featuring a buffalo.

Frontier School Division is reportedly suing a former employee for unspecified damages for posting disparaging statements on social media that reportedly included racial slurs, and derogatory and salacious insults. The woman was hired by the school division on temporary contracts to teach at the Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Centre—a First Nation school in Norway House—and at Thunderbird School—located in O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation. The teacher allegedly made comments online that “violated division policy” and included expressions of “dislike of a specific cultural group” and statements disparaging students. The statement of claim was filed in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench earlier this month. The lawsuit reportedly seeks unspecified damages, a permanent injunction barring the former employee from publishing defamatory statements, and the deletion of related social media content.

Six Nations Polytechnic’s Deyohahá:ge Indigenous Knowledge Centre has launched a partnership with the University of Waterloo to strengthen Hodinohsó:ni archival research and rematriation. “This partnership represents an important step in strengthening our responsibilities to Hodinohsó:ni knowledge, histories, and cultural belongings held in institutions abroad,” explained UWaterloo Assistant Professor Dr Talena Atfield. In addition to work with institutions abroad, the partners will also create opportunities for their students to participate in community-based research and contribute to Hodinohsó:ni language revitalization. “Our goal is not only to locate important cultural materials, but to build lasting relationships that support access, accountability, and future rematriation efforts,” said Senior Associate Dean of the Indigenous Knowledge Centre and University programs Stevie Jonathan, who is Kanyenkehà:ka from Six Nations of the Grand River.

Northern Lakes College’s Board of Governors has gifted the Native Cultural Arts Museum to Kapawe’no First Nation as a step towards reconciliation and cultural recognition. The museum has historically preserved and showcased Indigenous heritage in northern Alberta. Under the Kapawe’no First Nation’s stewardship, the museum will continue its offerings including its collection and educational programming, under Indigenous guidance. “Kapawe’no First Nation has worked tirelessly to create spaces where our children and communities can learn and thrive,” said Kapawe’no First Nation Hereditary Chief Sydney Halcrow. “The museum will be a living classroom – a place where history, art, and language come together for future generations.” This transfer builds upon an earlier deposition of the Northern Lakes Grouard Campus assets to Kapawe’no First Nation.

Ginoogaming First Nation high school students are helping build tiny homes for their community as part of the Indigenous Skilled Trades Training program. The program has brought together students from different high schools to help them gain skills in trades like carpentry and electrical work. Since the program’s conception, students from Hammarskjold High School have built five tiny homes for the Ginoogaming First Nation community, developing their skills while addressing the local housing challenges. “This is an opportunity for students from all of our schools to be part of real-time solutions to housing challenges while gaining hands-on experience in the trades. It helps our students build skills and confidence and allows teachers and school administration to learn more about our people and our children,” said Ginoogaming First Nation’s Chief Sheri Taylor.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has provided an update on drinking water safety at several schools in the territory. Lead testing results have confirmed that some water fixtures at Echo Dene School and Inualthuyak School have lead levels that are above the maximum acceptable concentration. These fixtures are now out of service, and alternative drinking water sources are being provided. NWT will be taking several steps to address the issue, including by implementing remediation measures such as new fixtures or installing filters and completing follow-up testing. Testing at K’alemi Dene School, Charles Yohin School, and Mangilaluk School have confirmed that all drinking water fixtures have lead levels below the maximum acceptable concentration.

Students at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology will be able to enjoy a new installation in the Gathering Room at Indigenous Services. Last summer, Indigenous Services recognized that the Gathering Room needed a larger table and reached out to Brent Collins of Mountainview Moccasin House, who was the college’s first Indigenous Coordinator. Collins brought the project to the Men’s Shed of Olds, which constructed the table using a combination of oak and MDF. The table is designed to look like a medicine wheel, with arrowheads from the region set into the table in an acrylic layer. The decision to embed the arrowheads was officially blessed by three Elders, and the arrowheads are placed in such a way that students can touch them and connect with thousands of years of knowledge.

Ocean Man First Nation recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new daycare. The celebration opened with a Nakoda prayer, and included an honour song and a feast to mark the occasion. Ocean Man First Nation has been planning the facility for several years, and the project is expected to be complete in September. “It is important that our little people have a safe place to go,” said Chief Ernest Standingready. “When they get older, they can stand before us maybe as chiefs or council. This building will be here for a very long time.”

Durham District School Board trustees have voted on the new name for a secondary school in northern Oshawa: Cedar Valley Secondary School. The name honours the Indigenous relationship with the nearby Cedar Valley Conservation Area and white cedar plants. “[Cedars’] ability to endure harsh conditions, regenerate and remain evergreen year-round has contributed to their association with strength, resilience, protection and continuity,” said DDSB Superintendent of Education Kandis Thompson. “One of four sacred medicines of the Anishinaabe people, the cedar is an important plant relative that has many practical and medicinal uses, providing protection, healing, grounding and spiritual connection. Cedar Valley honours these teachings and acknowledges the enduring relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land on which the school stands.”