September 4, 2024

The Nunavut Court of Appeal has struck down the Government of Nunavut’s appeal against a lawsuit launched by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) and two representative plaintiffs. The lawsuit, first launched in 2021, alleges that the territorial government is discriminating against Inuit students by not fulfilling its obligation to provide Inuit language instruction. “My first three children don’t speak Inuktitut and this is common,” said plaintiff Bernice Kuutuu Clarke, pointing to the lack of use of Inuktitut in schools and the broader community. “I need help with the whole community so that my daughter can be bilingual in the school, in the store, [with] her friends playing, and my visitors coming.” The lawsuit is now set to go to trial.

Algoma University, Keyano College, and Vancouver Island University recently received funds toward Indigenous centres and buildings on campus. AlgomaU’s Makwa Waakaa’igan centre of cultural excellence has received an additional $2M investment from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Makwa Waakaa’igan honours the Children of Shingwauk and their families, in addition to reclaiming and celebrating Anishinaabe lifeways and education in postsecondary spaces. Keyano’s Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), which is currently under development, received $100K from Syncrude. The centre will help Keyano to increase its percentage of Indigenous students, improve Indigenous graduation rates, and offer more opportunities for non-Indigenous students to learn about Indigenous heritage. VIU’s $4.2M expansion of the Shq’apthut building has received a $3.8M investment from the Government of British Columbia. The expanded building will feature a ceremonial space, offices for the Elder-in-residence, upgraded kitchen amenities, and more.

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed the Canada-Northwest Territories Agreement on Indigenous Languages, which will provide a total of $17.7M in funding from 2024-25 to 2026-27. $5.9M each year will be provided to Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, education bodies, communications societies, and community radio stations to support Indigenous language programs and initiatives. The funding amount, which has not changed since 2016, has been criticized given that the number of speakers of some Indigenous languages has dropped in the last five years. NWT Languages Commissioner Brenda Gauthier said that this erosion is “alarming” and requires “immediate steps be taken” to prevent further language loss.

Dawson College’s student union has launched a petition calling for Indigenous students to be exempt from the Government of Québec’s Law 14 (Bill 96). Dawson Student Union told CTV News that the law worsens the situation for many Indigenous students in the province, who face several barriers to education. “This is a language issue, this is a culture issue, this is a people issue, this is an equality issue, honestly,” said Dawson student Zye Mayo of the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake. “[Because] it’s not really equal, they say a student who graduated five years ago only had to take two French classes to pass and a student who graduates tomorrow has to take five.” The petition hopes to surpass 5,000 signatures before it is presented to the National Assembly of Québec.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is celebrating the grand opening of the Louis Riel Child Care Centre in the St Boniface region of Winnipeg. The centre has 40 spaces for infants and preschool children and will be staffed by Métis early childhood educators. “They’re going to learn about buffalo hunts, they’re going to learn about the trapping, our industry and fishing, they’re going to learn about where we come from and who we are, and how rich and vibrant our communities are,” said MMF Minister of Early Learning and Child Care Frances Chartrand. The Louis Riel centre is reportedly the eighth facility that MMF has opened since 2019; the organization intends to open eight more centres, the next of which is expected to open in The Pas later this year.

Concordia University has announced that it will offer tuition waivers to students from all 11 Nations—10 First Nations and the Inuit—across Québec. These waivers will cover most graduate and undergraduate programs, including part-time studies, certificates, and independent studies. “There is a misconception that First Nations and Inuit students automatically have their tuition costs covered, either from their band councils or education authorities,” explained Concordia Indigenous Directions Senior Advisor Allan Vicaire. “It’s really not the case.” Concordia Provost and VP Academic Anne Whitelaw added that a tuition waiver is a critical part of the university’s reconciliation work, as well as being “key to ensuring Indigenous students continue to see Concordia as a viable and sustainable partner in their higher education plans.”

The First Nations Technical Institute has received $4.5M from the Government of Canada to expand its aerospace training programs and create new opportunities for Indigenous youth. With this federal boost, FNTI will acquire specialized equipment and establish a training program through which students will attain a helicopter pilot license. “This funding announcement brings an envelope of support that will provide a new aviation helicopter training program to Indigenous students from remote, fly-in, and urban regions across Canada, graduating more pilots, growing economic development, stimulating entrepreneurship, cultivating mentorship and responding to the needs of communities,” said FNTI President Suzanne Brant.

Maggie Macintosh of the Winnipeg Free Press reports that University of Winnipeg professor Dr Julie Nagam is being accused of falsely representing herself as Indigenous by the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). MMF Minister Will Goodon told the Winnipeg Free Press that Nagam did not meet the criteria for citizenship with MMF; researchers Sherry Farrell Racette (University of Regina) and Cathy Mattes (UWinnipeg) also reportedly did not find evidence of Métis status when researching Nagam’s family tree. UWinnipeg Communications Director Caleb Zimmerman said that the university is taking the allegations “very seriously” and is “working to gain a better understanding of the situation.”

Several teachers and educational assistants (EAs) who worked at Yellow Quill First Nation’s Nawigizigweyas Education Centre have reportedly left the centre after they did not receive full compensation in their last paycheque of the year. EA Tisa Kayseas said that the school—which was already short-staffed—will now be short-staffed by an additional seven staff members. Kayseas said that the staff who left loved working at the school and that it will likely be too late for the centre to find staff to fill their positions. “We weren’t there for an income; we were there for an impact,” said Kayseas. “We had a truly amazing, goal orientated team with so many common visions in mind for the future of our students, the school and community.” Yellow Quill Chief John Machiskinik indicated that the staff members’ pay would be in the mail.

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and Vancouver Island University have partnered to bring the Indigenous Student Success Program to Alberta. VIU—which offers the leadership program that the new student success program is based on—expanded this initiative into AB, with SAIT signing on as an early adopter. Through the Indigenous Student Success Program, SAIT’s Indigenous graduates can apply to two-year internship positions at Alberta companies, where they will gain access to leadership development, networking, and alumni activities. “The Indigenous Intern Leadership Program is playing a critical role in British Columbia to ensure the transition to meaningful work for Indigenous graduates,” said VIU President Dr Deborah Saucier. “We look forward to working with SAIT officials to share our lessons with them as they establish a similar program in Alberta.”