November 4, 2026

The University of Victoria has received a $1.3M donation from an anonymous UVic alumnus to expand STEM programs for Indigenous youth. This gift will be used to strengthen the learning pathway for students as they move from elementary school to postsecondary education and graduate studies. It will also be used to establish an endowment for an entrance award for Indigenous students, increase access to climate- and sustainability-focused experiential learning placements, and support outreach programming through the K–12 Indigenous STEM (InSTEM) outreach team. Fourth-year UVic student Riley Friesen, who is Nuxalk of Bella Coola and Ojibway of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, shared his experience as a member of the InSTEM outreach team and as a tour leader for the UVic Observatory. “Across cultures and throughout history, humans have looked up at the stars, identified patterns and found meaning in what they saw. Indigenous teachings, for example, include using stars to understand seasons,” stated Friesen. “We can show that other perspectives in science are welcome.” 

The Indigenous Advanced Education & Skills Council recently reviewed and approved the Master’s Degree Program Handbook, which is the first graduate-level Program Handbook to be developed for Indigenous Institutes. With this new handbook, Indigenous institutes can now submit program review applications for standalone master’s degree programs. The handbook outlines the standards and benchmarks used by IAESC to assess applications and offers guidelines for institutes to follow as they prepare their applications. IAESC states that the document is grounded in relational accountability; Indigenous governance; and the IAESC’s responsibilities to learners, communities, Nations, and future generations.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association has spoken out against the Government of Alberta’s forthcoming regulation for school flag displays, citing issues created by the regulation that include an impact on reconciliation. The regulation reportedly asserts that the flags “must not constitute a political, social or ideological statement or position on the part of the school board contrary to the school board’s responsibility under the Education Act.” According to the Red Deer Advocate, First Nations, Métis Settlement General Council, and Métis Settlement flags can be displayed on specified days and during official visits. “The regulations… raise serious questions about reconciliation,” stated ATA President Jason Schilling, “Schools can display sports team flags all year, but there are restrictions on displaying the flags of First Nations and Métis communities. Alberta’s schools stand on Treaty Lands and Traditional Territories, and Indigenous students, families and communities deserve recognition and respect every day of the year, not just on designated occasions.”

The University of Toronto has formally launched its Indigenous Substantiation process, which it says will be a consistent, Indigenous-led approach to substantiating claims to Indigenous Membership, Citizenship and Enrolment. The new process will reportedly apply to individuals identifying as Indigenous on job or academic applications to the institution and/or who apply for roles where Indigenous membership, citizenship, or enrolment is a requirement or consideration. Global News and HR Reporter report that a complaint was recently filed with the Law Society of Ontario against a U of T adjunct professor who identifies as Indigenous and teaches Indigenous law; the complaint alleges that the professor has no evidence of Indigeneity.

Concordia University’s redesigned Henry F Hall Building terrace now features two new Indigenous public artworks. The first is a bronze medallion called A Song for Nuliajuk by Jason Sikoak, while the second is a panoramic mural called Teionihtiohtia:kon by artist duo Hannah Claus and Kaia’tanó:ron Dumoulin Bush. The Toronto Catholic District School Board recently unveiled a mural by Que Rock, an Anishinaabe multidisciplinary artist and professional muralist from Nipissing First Nation, at St Angela Catholic School. The University of Ottawa unveiled a mural that was created by five Indigenous artists: Miskomin Twenish (Algonquin), Chris Chipak (Cree), Aija Komangapik (Inuk), Victoria Ransom (Kanien’kehá:ka) and Bre Quirion (Métis). UOttawa Director of Indigenous Affairs Tareyn Johnson told CBC that the five artists represent the five largest Indigenous populations in Ottawa.

The Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC) and the College of Midwives of Ontario have signed an MOU focused on Indigenous Midwifery degree programs. IAESC and CMO will collaborate to create mutually beneficial practices and quality assurance processes for Indigenous Midwifery programs that encompass Indigenous cultures, epistemologies, languages, and spiritual beliefs. “Indigenous midwifery programs play a vital role in preserving traditional midwifery practices, increasing access to culturally grounded midwifery care, and supporting the revitalization of midwifery in community,” said IAESC Board Chair Lora Tisi. “We hope that this partnership positively impacts Indigenous learners and communities for generations to come.”

Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be expanding a field school for First Nations archaeologists and Land Guardians. The six-credit, tuition-free field school offers First Nations students the opportunity to develop their skills in GPS data collection, landscape history, and cultural materials. The North Delta Reporter states that there is a demand for more trained archaeologists to conduct the projects happening across British Columbia. “One of the things that First Nations need in order to have a greater role in directing archaeology work and making recommendations themselves is a great capacity to do archaeology at a professional level,” explained KPU Anthropology Instructor Brian Pegg. The expansion is supported by a $358K federal grant.

Several organizations in Canada have recently partnered to create and deliver courses that include an Indigenous perspective. A partnership between McMaster University and Six Nations Polytechnic resulted in an opportunity for students to take part in a land-based learning course. Students learned about river health through a Six Nations-led, Haudenosaunee framework and by paddling the Grand River in canoes. “It’s the perfect chance to build community and connections, not just with fellow scholars and knowledge keepers, but also the land itself and its inhabitants,” said McMaster student Tekenikhon Doreen. Meanwhile, in Prince Edward Island, Abegweit First Nation is delivering a dedicated Indigenous health course to the University of Prince Edward Island nursing students. The health course is reportedly the first of its kind to have been designed, developed, and delivered by a First Nation community for an accredited nurse training program. CBC reports that Pallium Canada and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, Lennox Island First Nation, and Abegweit First Nation created an online course focused on end-of-life care that respects Indigenous traditions and ways of healing.

Trillium Lakelands District School Board held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Outdoor Education and Indigenous Centre. The centre will be a 3,000-square-foot facility that provides a day program with hands-on, curriculum-linked learning for over 17,000 K–12 students. Students will take part in hikes in warmer months and snowshoeing in colder months, reports CTV News. “This initiative is unique and the work is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. It’s about trust and collaboration to ensure all TLDSB students have the opportunity to participate in Indigenous ways of knowing and being through land-based learning,” said TLDSB CEO Wes Hahn. The $3.8M project is being funded by TLDSB’s accumulated funds and is expected to be completed in 2028.

Northern Lakes College has celebrated the official opening of its new Peavine Campus, which is located in the Peavine Métis Settlement. At the official opening, community members were able to explore the campus and tour the new learning space. The campus will help to maintain accessible educational opportunities within the community by ensuring students can pursue their education close to home. “Whether we’re opening the doors to a new learning space in Peavine or providing a place for students to call home in High Prairie, our goal remains the same: to make education more accessible for the people and communities we serve,” said Northern Lakes President Dr Glenn Mitchell.