Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • National

An international data breach involving the PowerSchool educational technology has affected Indigenous and non-Indigenous school boards in Canada. CBC reports that schools in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Indigenous school system were affected by the breach; the Government of Newfoundland’s Education department is investigating what data was accessed in the breach. In Ontario, City News reports that the Toronto District School Board has shared that the compromised information includes “First Nations, Métis, and Inuit information” for students between 1985 and 2024. In the Northwest Territories, Cabin Radio states that multiple school boards have been affected and that PowerSchool is offering identity protection services and complementary credit monitoring services for affected students and educators.

CBC (NL), City News (ON), Cabin Radio (NWT)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • NWT

Aurora College has announced that it will close all 19 of its Community Learning Centres by June 2025. In a statement, the Aurora Board of Governors explained that enrolment and completion rates at the centres have decreased dramatically in recent years while the delivery model has become “prohibitively expensive, outdated, and ineffective.” CKLB News reports that many of the learning centres are located in Indigenous communities, including NWT’s northernmost community of Ulukhaktok. Aurora will also withdraw from its partnership with Inclusion NWT and will no longer offer literacy-level programming. The Union of Northern Workers told Cabin Radio that this decision will impact 47 unionized jobs. It has accordingly filed a grievance with the Government of the Northwest Territories, asserting that the closures were “announced as final without giving the union an opportunity to meet with the employer to discuss ways to avoid layoffs.” The college will continue to provide academic upgrading in person at its three campuses and online.

Aurora, Cabin Radio, CBC, CKLB

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • MB

A recent decision by the Mountain View School Division to reinstate the singing of God Save the King each school day has received push back from the Dauphin community. MVSD Board of Trustees member Jarri-Ann Thompson, who is a member of Minegoziibe Anishinae, told APTN News that she learned about the change when she was sent multiple messages with screenshots of a message sent to principals about the change. CBC and APTN News report that MVSD Board Chair Jason Gryba made the reinstatement to “ensure compliance” with the Manitoba Education Administration Act; he reportedly told Thompson that he did not need to discuss the decision with the board. Thompson shared that community members feel “blindsided” by the change; CBC adds that the Manitoba Teachers’ Society is questioning the decision to enforce this policy at a time when reconciliation is a key focus for education. CBC MB Premier Wab Kinew stated that the government is currently considering reviewing the policy that Gryba referred to.

APTN News, CBC (CP)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • AB, SK

Red Deer Polytechnic and Southeast College recently celebrated the grand openings of Indigenous learning centres on their respective campuses. RDP celebrated the grand opening of the Pónokaisissáhta Indigenous Student Centre, which will provide Indigenous students with access to advising, cultural programming, and student spaces. Siksika Nation Elder Johnathon Red Gun gifted the centre the name Pónokaisissáhta, which means “Elk River” in Blackfoot. Southeast unveiled its Reconciliation Education Centre, where students, staff, and community members will be able to learn more about Indigenous culture and teachings. The centre will reflect Indigenous knowledge and experiences, support cultural exchanges, and foster student leadership.

RDP, Southeast, Central Alberta Online (RDP), Discover Estevan (Southeast)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • National

The Assembly of First Nations has released its K-12 First Nations Education Transformation Costing Analysis Report, which examines the implementation of the Government of Canada’s reformed approach to funding First Nations education on reserves. AFN’s report states that the new approach has increased the amount of funding for K-12 education, but not to a sufficient level to meet real needs. Further, the report identified challenges with the quality of IRFF funding breakdowns, a lack of response to First Nations’ funding enhancements requests, and funding delays. AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak called on Canada to fulfil its commitments to the K-12 education transformation. “Canada must expand opportunities for all First Nations to build and maintain the education infrastructure their communities need. Education decisions today will shape the future of First Nations for generations to come,” said Woodhouse Nepinak. “Canada, including current and future governments, must prioritize First Nations education, meet its obligations, and support First Nations’ inherent right to control their education.”

AFN (PDF), Nation Talk

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • MB

Red Crow Community College has become the newest member of Colleges and Institutes Canada. CICan’s member page for RCCC describes the college as a leader in Indigenous education that is guided by Blackfoot values and traditions. CICan highlighted the college’s programming in agriculture, teacher education, and Indigenous mental health and identified its research specializations in areas such as Blackfoot language revitalization, reconciliation in higher education, and mental health and wellness. “RCCC’s membership will strengthen our network’s collective efforts to advance reconciliation,” read a statement from CICan. “We look forward to collaborating with RCCC and our other members to co-create initiatives that promote increased Indigenous representation and participation in postsecondary governance, research, and education.”

CICan, Facebook (CICan)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • BC

Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools is celebrating its highest ever graduation rates for Indigenous students: 86%. The rate exceeds the provincial Indigenous student graduation rate of 75%. The Nanaimo Bulletin reports that the district has benefitted from integrating the local Indigenous language Hul’q’umi’num’ into the curriculum. “I think when students can see themselves represented in the things that they’re learning in school, they are more engaged in the work that they’re doing,” said Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association Jo Cornthwaite. “And students, from what I’ve heard from examples on the ground, they are appreciating the fact that they have those connections to culture in terms of their language.”

Nanaimo Bulletin

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • AB

Two organizations have released new professional development resources and training courses to support health-care workers who work with Indigenous patients. Athabasca University launched several courses designed to tackle anti-Indigenous racism in health care. The courses teach health professionals about the struggles that Indigenous communities face and how to identify and confront systemic racism. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government has announced the launch of the Métis Cancer Care Course, an e-learning program designed for cancer care providers in Alberta and across Canada. The course provides an overview of who Métis people are, exploring their distinct culture, history, and approaches to health and well-being.

Globe Newswire (AU), Nation Talk (Otipemisiwak)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • ON

The Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSSA) has released a cumulative report on the first phases of its search for unmarked graves on Algoma University’s campus, which is the former site of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School. No burial sites were found during a search of the grounds in front of AlgomaU. “It was a long process to do, but we feel that we’re very, very fortunate that we didn’t find any unknown burial sites as of now,” said Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association President George Diamond. “We still have quite a bit of work to do in the future. There’s still a big area to cover.” The area behind the university will be searched in two phases later this year.

APTN News, CSAA (PDF)

Indigenous Top Ten News

Jan 29, 2025 • BC

Students from the seven First Nations communities served by SD73 in the Kamloops-Thompson region will have more options for where they attend school. Last year, the Government of British Columbia passed Bill 40, which requires school boards to consult with Indigenous bands to designate a school of choice. Castanet reports that the SD73 board of education has interpreted these changes to mean that bands can designate additional schools in addition to their designated catchment school. On the topic of transportation for schools of choice, SD73 Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education Michelle Mattes explained that the board is not obligated to provide transportation to schools of choice, but indicated that “if we can make it work […] we just try to do that and accommodate those things.”

Castanet