July 2, 2025

With National Indigenous Peoples Day falling on a Saturday this year, school boards and postsecondary institutions scheduled special events and shared resources in advance of the day. Several schools, including Altadore School, Royal Roads University, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, and Vancouver Community College held special celebrations with food, dances, and cultural learning opportunities. School District 8 and the University of Prince Edward Island were among those that created and shared resources designed to teach students and their families about the day and about local Indigenous culture. The University of Lethbridge hosted a naming ceremony, where two students received Blackfoot names from Ninnaisipistoo (Owl Chief) Dr Francis First Charger.

Algoma University recently came together with the Children of Shingqauk Alumni Association (CSAA) to mark the official turning of the earth for Makwa Waakaa’igan, a National Centre of Cultural Excellence. The centre, which will reportedly be the first of its kind in the province, will teach Canadians about residential schools and celebrate Indigenous culture and research. “We understand that our four-legged relative, Makwa, is a medicine carrier and, as such, a healer who holds the sacredness of these medicines,” said CSAA Co-Founder Shirley Horn, who is also an Elder and Survivor. “In reverence for Makwa’s gifts, their name marks this place’s significance and honours the work yet to be done into the future—a place where people will come to learn the importance of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, how different world views can enhance and strengthen understanding, and how we can work together in harmony in the pursuit of the good life, Mino-bimaadiziwin.” The university also recently announced its sponsorship of the City of Brampton’s Heartbeats in Arts & Culture Program, which connects Black and Indigenous high school students with artists and professionals for mentorship.

Several K-12 and postsecondary schools across Canada this year honoured their graduating Indigenous students with special ceremonies and gifts. At institutions like Mount Royal University, Red Deer Polytechnic, Selkirk College, and St Lawrence College, graduates were given gifts such as blankets, eagle feathers, or Métis sashes to honour their accomplishments. Ottawa’s postsecondary institutions and the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) hosted special ceremonies that brought together Indigenous graduates from their broader communities. In Ottawa, Collège La Cité hosted a dedicated ceremony for Indigenous graduates of Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité, and the University of Ottawa. Meanwhile, WSD invited graduating students from evacuated regions of Manitoba to its ceremony. “They’d be missing out just on the camaraderie and the celebration of working so hard,” said Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous education with WSD. “You don’t want to miss out on that.”

Several international students at Thompson Rivers University shared their experience participating in a course focused on Indigenous traditions. In the course, students had the opportunity to learn introductory Secwepemctsin from Secwepemc language teacher Marie Sandy, build traditional Indigenous drums with Elder Norman Retasket, and take part in a sage-picking ceremony with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Elder Colleen Seymour. “These students have been in Canada for a very short period of time and they came to the classroom having heard stereotypes about Indigenous people, […] but they really didn’t know very much about issues that shape Indigenous peoples’ lives in Canada,” said TRU Associate Professor Mukwa Musayett (Shelly Johnson), who led the course. Several students also told CFJC Today that the practice of sitting in a circle and listening to classmates speak changed their perspective of one another. “Whatever background you have come from, it makes no difference,” said TRU Student Ali Alizadeh.

Yukon University’s First Nations Arts certificate program has returned from hiatus following the hiring of Vernon Asp, who is a Tahltan carver. The program was paused in 2023 after its lead instructor retired. “It’s difficult sometimes to hire the correct or the right person for the role, and so we took some time to do that,” explained YukonU Chair of the School of Academic and Skill Development Stephen Biggin-Pound. “I think we’ve got that person.” As an assistant professor, Asp will teach the program’s small craft and carving module. “The program is incredibly important, because it is an expression of Indigenous identity,” Asp said. “It helps to found students in the areas of learning their culture and balancing their lifestyle.” The university hopes to expand the program over time, which Asp says would enable the program to accommodate more extensive crafts.

Former certified band school principal Pehgee Agnes Boholst Aranas has reportedly been disciplined by the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation for spanking a First Nations student and making comments “inconsistent” with truth and reconciliation. CBC reports that Aranas received a written warning in 2021 after making anti-Indigenous comments in an email to an employee, and was placed on leave in 2023 after striking a Grade 1 student and falsely claiming that the student’s parents approved of her actions. “Her actions perpetuated the harmful legacy of physical abuse in Indian Residential Schools and reflected a belief in harmful stereotypes,” the commissioner wrote in the consent agreement. “Her actions harmed [the student], negatively impacted the community’s feelings of trust and safety in the education system and did not contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing.” In 2024, the First Nation that operated the certified band school ended her employment; the commissioner has suspended Aranas’s teaching certificate for three days and ordered her to take educational courses.

CBC reports that Western University is considering a new requirement for proof of Indigenous citizenship or membership that would apply to roles and opportunities designated for Indigenous individuals. The proposed policy, recently approved by Western’s Senate and now advancing to the Board of Governors, would apply to applicants for Indigenous-specific jobs, awards, and admissions. According to The Western Gazette, individuals would need to provide documentation or community reference letters to confirm affiliation with an Indigenous nation. “The policy is really designed to advance the work of Truth and Reconciliation by eliminating the harm that results from simply relying on mere self-declarations and instead focusing on creating a safe, inclusive and diverse culture at Western,” said Western Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President of Indigenous Initiatives Christy Bressette.

Several schools across Canada have unveiled new murals, which were created in partnership with Indigenous artists. In British Columbia, École Mer-et-montagne unveiled a plant-inspired Indigenous mural by Jessica Chickite of the We Wai Kai First Nation (Cape Mudge Band). In Ontario, Langton Public School recently unveiled a mural that was created by students, staff, and local artist Cileena Sandy of Wasauksing First Nation; Elmira District Secondary School celebrated a new mural painted by student Maggie E New, whose late father was a member of Long Point First Nation; and St Mary’s College students created a Woodland-style mural with the guidance of Anishinaabe artist Lucia Laford. In Manitoba, the University of Manitoba Price Faculty of Engineering now sports a mural by Métis artist Mike Valcourt. The mural—which depicts bison jumping over a hydroelectic dam while an Indigenous fisherman stands in a canoe nearby—serves as a reclamation of Indigenous knowledge in engineering.

The University of Guelph has announced the creation of the Local First Nations Award to support students from the 11 First Nations communities on whose treaty lands and territories the university resides. The awards will provide funds equivalent to tuition for students in the associate diploma and undergraduate programs, and up to $10K annually for students in graduate programs. All full-time or part-time students at UoGuelph, UoGuelph-Humber, or UoGuelph Ridgetown will be eligible for the awards if they are members of one of the 11 communities. “Post-secondary education is not only a tool for personal growth, it is essential to the future of our Nations,” says Caldwell First Nation Chief Nikki van Oirschot of Caldwell First Nation. “We are encouraged to see the University of Guelph take a meaningful step forward in addressing the barriers that have long prevented First Nations students from accessing higher education.”

Students from several schools across the country recently stepped out of the classroom for land-based learning activities. Anishinabek News reports that a group of Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute students made moose and bison burgers as part of a program hosted by the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre. In Northern Saskatchewan, Clearwater River Dene School students took part in a fish camp led by land-based educator Paul Haynes. “I think it motivates kids more to come to school and they know that they have to get their work done if they want to go out and do stuff with Paul,” said CRDS Teachers Assistant Eden Fontaine. At the University of Waterloo, science students took part in a four-day Traditional Medicines Land-Based Field Course on the lands near Alderville First Nation, where they worked with Anishinaabe Elders and facilitators, created medicine boxes, and took part in a sacred healing ceremony in a traditional sweat lodge. The University of Saskatchewan’s Indian Teacher Education Program also hosted a series of land-based sessions over the last school year where K-12 students learned about topics like bison teachings, honour sacrifice, and using education for the good of others.