September 9, 2026

The Assembly of First Nations has published the First Nations Education Infrastructure Capital and Operations and Maintenance Needs Assessment report, which explores the capital, operations, and maintenance needs for 395 schools across Canada. The report states that more than 225 federally funded First Nations schools are overcrowded, an increase of 25 since 2021, and that 77 schools need to be replaced due to infrastructure concerns, an increase of 21 since 2021. While a new system for funding First Nations educational institutions was implemented in 2019, AFN argues that more is needed to address the impacts of historic underfunding and the infrastructure crisis. It outlined the need for funding to support several aspects to address the need for adequate teacher housing, and to recruit and retain qualified educators. AFN has called on the federal government to provide at least $19B over the next two decades to “ease the chronic underfunding of Indigenous schools across Canada,” reports the Calgary Herald.

The Rita Marten Nihiyawiwin Kiskinwamatowin High School has opened and welcomed its first Grade 10 students this year. Construction on the school’s permanent location is set to be completed by early next year, so learners in Edmonton are currently studying in a temporary space on Jasper Avenue. The Indigenous-focused high school offers an education that is based on the standard provincial curriculum with lessons in the Cree language, land-based learning opportunities, and other supports. The program was created by the Mikisew Cree First Nation to support academic success and improve the graduation rate. “[The Cree language] isn’t something that you can just get an app and then learn,” explained Paula Campbell, a Cree language and culture teacher. “Really holistically, the best way to learn it is by speaking and living it, and with support of our language speakers and our knowledge holders.”

At a recent board meeting, the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated announced several updates and passed motions of relevance to education. Of particular note, NTI announced that it has allocated $4.14M in federal National School Food Program funding for the 2026-27 school year. The funding will be used to help schools provide nutritious meals and snacks to students across Nunavut, improving food security and educational outcomes. “As Inuit, we believe in caring for one another, especially our children,” said NTI President Gloria Uluqsi. “School food programs do more than provide meals, they give students the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.” The board of directors received an update on the future of the Inuktut Academic School(s) initiative: To advance the work, the initiative will need to determine the school locations and use that information to develop regional costing models. The board has directed NTI to establish a committee consisting of an Inuk representative from each region to work with the Regional Inuit Associations and move the process forward.

Dalhousie University has received a more than $1M donation from the Isabel Bader Charitable Trust to create two annual scholarships for Indigenous nursing students. The Isabel Overton Bader Graduate Scholarships in Indigenous Nursing will provide approximately $21K annually to selected students, which Dal CIHR Chair in Indigenous Health Nursing Dr Margot Latimer said will help fill a gap in nursing. “Nursing practice, education and research have been missing the scholarly contributions of Indigenous nursing knowledge, and this exciting gift will engage Mi’kmaw and Indigenous nurses in Master’s and PhD career tracks, which will directly translate to necessary Indigenous-led nursing policy, education, and health system-level change,” concluded Latimer.

A new secondary school—the Gitksen West Secondary School—has officially opened in northwestern British Columbia, bringing a new educational option for students from the communities of Gitwangak, Gitanyow, and Gitsegukla. The school is governed by a school board representing the communities and it will offer secondary education in a learning environment that is rooted in Gitxsan culture, language, and community. With the launch of the new school, students will no longer need to travel 60km to Hazelton for their education. “Reclaiming education holds profound significance for our people, especially given the history of residential schools,” said Gitwangak Chief Chasity Daniels. “Today, we are bringing education home and creating opportunities for our children on our own terms.”

The Métis Nation–Saskatchewan held a ground blessing ceremony in Regina to mark the beginning of a new community hub development that will bring together child care, citizen services, and supportive housing. Among the facilities and services offered through the hub will be a 90-space Early Learning and Child Care Centre, which CKRM reports will be part of the growing Métis child-care network being developed across the province. The centre will connect children with Métis identity, languages, and traditions from their earliest years, with local Elders contributing to the programming through storytelling and cultural guidance. “It’s important that our children are immersed in their Métis culture at a young age so they grow up with a strong sense of self,” said MN–S Early Learning and Child Care Minister Ryan Carriere.

Nunavut Arctic College has been awarded $600K by ArcticNet’s North-by-North Program to support its research capabilities. Funding will go to three areas of focus: developing parasite detection capabilities, upgrading NAC’s online portal for accessing research licenses, and developing training modules on ethical research practices and relationship building with Indigenous communities. NAC Nunavut Research Institute Director of Innovation and Research Jamal Shirley explained that the college plays a role in preparing Nunavummiut to take part in research collaborations and in ensuring that researchers are prepared to work “in a responsible, ethical, respectful way.” “Nunavut is a very attractive place for researchers from around the world,” Shirley said. “We can anticipate lots more researchers coming into our territory.”

The Near North District School Board will be naming its new elementary school in honour of Francis Pegahmagabow, the former chief of the Wasauksing First Nation and a veteran of the First World War. The Francis Pegahmagabow Elementary School will be a K-6 school located in Parry Sound. Wasauksing Chief Shane Tabobondung said that the First Nation sees the naming as “a gesture of safety” and as a “recognition of the history and contributions of Indigenous communities to the region.” Pegahmagabow’s great-grandson Brian McInnes told CBC that the naming also reflects his great-grandfather’s values and legacy as an advocate for education and the inclusion of Indigenous peoples within the education system.

Dze L’Kant Friendship Centre recently celebrated the opening of its Cub House childcare centre in the District of Houston. The 3,600-square-foot centre will provide licensed care to 37 Indigenous children from infancy to five years old. “When we look after them, we are looking after the generations yet to come,” said Dze L’Kant Friendship Centre Executive Director Nox Stikine (Annette Morgan). “It is with a good heart and a clear mind that we open the doors to The Cub House.” The friendship centre celebrated the opening of the childcare centre, as well as the opening of a new facility for the centre’s services and administration space, with an event that included a ceremony, speeches and remarks, and refreshments.

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation has become an agreement holder under the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program, which enables it to directly design and deliver employment and training services for its communities. The agreement gives PBCN direct responsibility for designing and delivering employment and training services that respond to the priorities of its citizens and communities. “For years, we have said that our people know what our communities need, and this agreement puts that principle into action,” said PBCN Chief Peter Beatty. “We can now design training around our own priorities, our own people and the opportunities that exist in our communities and across the province. The Government of Canada states that it will be providing $6.8M in funding for this agreement through the existing ISET funding envelope.