January 28, 2026

The Government of Prince Edward Island and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI have renewed a four-year funding agreement that will ensure Mi’kmaq and Indigenous community members in PEI can gain learning, mentorship, and employment opportunities. The $1.67M in funding will support two programs: A project-based program where participants will develop their skills through hands-on experiences with social enterprises, and the Workforce Essential Skills program that will support adult learners by providing engaging, practical learning experiences within Lennox Island First Nation. “This ongoing partnership will not only help individuals but our community as a whole,” said Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould. “By investing in programs that enhance employment and career pathways for First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, we can create a stronger workforce and economy for all.”

Canadore College has officially launched its Indigenous Learning Outcomes initiative after a successful pilot. The goal of the initiative is to embed Indigenous knowledge into Canadore’s curriculum by integrating it with Western frameworks. The four outcomes were designed to be adaptable across a variety of disciplines. The outcomes are: understanding the principles of Indigenous knowledge, describing the relationship between Indigenous people and the land, analyzing the impact of colonization on Indigenous people, and evaluating social and political reconciliation in Canada. “Embedding Indigenous Learning Outcomes is both a responsibility and an opportunity—to honour Indigenous knowledges, strengthen teaching practice, and advance reconciliation through education,” said Canadore Dean, Centre of Academic Excellence and Lifelong Learning Deidre Bannerman.

The RCMP are investigating a school fire that occurred on the territory of Blueberry River First Nation on January 17th. There were no casualties and no indication that the fire was suspicious, explained the RCMP, but the school was destroyed and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Blueberry River First Nation called the fire a “tremendous loss for the community,” as the Blueberry Community School was also used for community gatherings, funerals, and cultural events. The First Nation has vowed to rebuild as soon as possible. In her comments to Town and Country Today, Blueberry River First Nation Elders Coordinator Sandra Apsassin emphasized the school’s importance as a cultural hub and asserted that she intends to speak to the school’s staff about rebuilding: “We are going to get a bigger, better building.”

Several organizations and postsecondary institutions have recently announced new scholarships and funds to support Indigenous students looking to pursue higher education. The Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation announced that it would be investing $60K in funding from the proceeds of its Indigenous logo merchandise into supporting incoming Indigenous students at First Nations University. The funds will be used to create an “Away from Home” bursary for students who need to relocate to attend university and a scholarship for academic excellence. SaskEnergy provided $150K to the University of Saskatchewan’s Be What the World Needs Campaign to create a new scholarship program that includes awards specifically for Indigenous students. The Government of Saskatchewan also doubled the number of Lieutenant Governor Scholarships; it will now award two Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Indigenous Scholarships valued at $20K each on an annual basis. The Indigenous Institutes Consortium (IIC) and CIBC also recently announced the fourteen recipients of the Community Development Scholarship: Two students from each of the consortium’s seven member institutes in Ontario.

Simon Fraser University and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines how they will work together to improve the health and well-being of First Nations peoples in British Columbia. The agreement states that SFU and FNHA will share information, identify ways to respectfully advance the needs of BC First Nations, and align on the core principles of research involving Indigenous peoples. Part of this work will also inform aspects of SFU’s School of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, such as admissions, curriculum, and partnerships with Indigenous communities. “The MOU marks the beginning of our shared commitment to integrate First Nations’ ancestral knowledge, traditions and perspectives in medical education and increase the number of First Nations physicians,” said FNHA CEO Monica McAlduff. “Together, we celebrate this significant milestone in advancing culturally safe, trauma-informed and team-based medical education for the next generation of physicians.”

In a recent report on its invitational shared services initiatives, the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division shared the benefits of partnering with three local First Nations—Muskoday First Nation, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, and Montreal Lake Cree Nation. The board shared that the partnerships have resulted in improved credit attainment for Muskoday students, high trust between grad coaches and Muskoday and Wahpeton students, and increased involvement in land-based learning professional development for teachers with Montreal Lake Cree Nation. “Any time we can have partnerships with our First Nations within our school division, it’’s beneficial to what we’’re doing. And you can see within the partnerships, there’’s a different focus in all three of them,” said SRPSD Director of Education Neil Finch. “We want to continue to have a good partnership with all First Nations that are within our school division.”

Six Nations Polytechnic has announced that it will launch a two-year Early Childhood Education diploma program in Fort Erie this Fall. The program follows Niagara College’s ECE curriculum and contains additional Haudenosaunee and Indigenous ways of Knowing, Teaching, and Learning. Students will have access to supports from both Niagara College and SNP as a part of the program. Students will supplement their in-class learning with placements in the region in environments including EarlyON centres and kindergarten and preschool classrooms. SNP Senior Associate Dean of Community Services and SNP Field Placement Specialist Carrie Washburn said that the high demand and accessibility of the Fort Erie program will lead to strong outcomes for students.

Dalhousie University has reportedly revoked the honorary degree that it had awarded to Buffy Sainte-Marie. CBC News states that the decision follows a formal request from Dal medical student Aaron Prosper, who is Mi’kmaw from Eskasoni First Nation. In his request to Dal’s senate committee, Prosper cited a CBC investigation into Sainte-Marie’s claims of Indigenous identity, past instances of revoked honorary degrees at other institutions, and the termination of Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada appointment. Dal carried out the revocation in December according to its Senate Honorary Degrees Committee’s criteria and procedures. This is reportedly the first time that the university has revoked an honorary degree.

Algonquin College’s Mamidosewin Centre is hosting the non-profit Soaring Circle’s Sewcase Skills Lab, which aims to support and empower over 1,000 Indigenous students. Soaring Circle President Josée Lusignan explained that Indigenous people remain underrepresented in the fashion industry, so the non-profit designed the lab to create a familiar, culturally safe space where Indigenous students can see that the doors to further education and/or a career in fashion are open to them. The organization has equipped the centre with state-of-the-art sewing machines and textiles, provided curriculum support, and connected the college to mentorship from Indigenous creators and global brand experts. “We are expanding a space where Indigenous students can build skills, further grounding themselves in who they are,” said Algonquin Director of Indigenous Services Anita Tenasco, who expressed the college’s gratitude to Soaring Circle. “The new sewing machines, the beautiful fabrics and craft supplies are a tremendous gift and a welcome, wonderful addition to the programming available to Indigenous students who attend Algonquin College.”

James Smith Cree Nation recently held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the beginning of two major construction projects: the Miyo-Pimatisiwin Wellness Centre and the Akameyimok Lodge. While the Akameyimok Lodge will focus on addiction treatment and outpatient services, the Miyo-Pimatisiwin Wellness Centre will focus on mental health programs. The Wellness Centre will include a mix of spaces that include gathering areas, child-care areas, and a land-based learning room. “Through the sod-turning ceremony, we open a new chapter for wellness in our community so that our people can heal,” said James Smith Cree Nation Chief Kirby Constant. “The objective is to help individuals, families, and our youth.” APTN News reports that the wellness centre will open in 2028.