Post Secondary Education
and Training
Post-Secondary Engagement Process 2019-2023: Historic Timeline & Key Development
First Nations view post-secondary education and training as an integral component of lifelong learning.
In 2017, the federal government announced a review of post-secondary programs supporting Indigenous students.
In 2019, the federal government committed $7.5M nationally over three years for First Nations to conduct a post-secondary engagement process.
In April 2020, the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) supported PTO’s, Independent First Nations and unaffiliated First Nation to conduct a post-secondary engagement process, evaluating existing post-secondary support in Ontario from a First Nations perspective. A Post-Secondary Engagement Committee was established, including representatives from:
- Chiefs of Ontario (COO)
- Provincial Territorial Organizations (PTOs)
- Indigenous Institutes (IICs)
- Sagamok First Nation
- Six Nations of the Grand River
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Key Findings & Recommendations
In September 2023, the Post-Secondary Engagement Report was finalized, outlining 41 regional recommendations based on engagement activities and input from the PSE Committee. Recommendations focus on:
- Strengthening relationships with federal/provincial governments and mainstream post-secondary institutions.
- Ensuring consistent and sustainable funding for:
- Early intervention programs.
- First Nation-controlled data systems.
- Administrative and capital funding for Indigenous Institutes.
- Curriculum development, program design, and student support.
Click on the link to read the 2023 Chiefs of Ontario Post-Secondary Engagement Report
Post-Secondary Education Costing Model
A key challenge identified in the PSE engagement report is the lack of adequate funding to support both First Nation students and the organizations that assist them. To address this, the COO Education Sector contracted MNP LLP (MNP) to develop a comprehensive post-secondary costing model. The model is intended to provide estimated baseline costs to adequately support First Nation students attending Ontario post-secondary institutes. In addition, it provides estimated costs for First Nations and organizations to adequately support post-secondary students with appropriate administration costs, including wrap-around supports for students. The model will help First Nation post-secondary education administrators assess funding needs and will help inform the development of proposals for new regional models for post-secondary financial aid programs, policies and services for First Nation students in Ontario and to help ON advocate for more funding for the PSSSP program.
ISC Funding Programs for First Nation Post-Secondary Education
Post-Secondary Partnerships Program (PSPP)
The PSPP supports First Nations-led post-secondary education by funding First Nation-established institutions and community-based programs designed and led by First Nations. This proposal-based program is regionally delivered and aims to increase access, success, and culturally relevant learning for First Nation students, helping close the education gap.
For more information on the PSPP program click on the link below:
https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033691/1531934968283
Click on the link below for the PSPP National Guidelines:
Post-Secondary Partnerships Program: National Guidelines 2024 to 2025.
Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)
The PSSSP offers financial support to status First Nations students pursuing post-secondary education. This funding can help cover tuition, books, travel, and living expenses, reducing financial barriers and increasing student success rates. Funding for this program is provided to First Nations or First Nations-designated organizations as part of core funding agreements with Indigenous governments and organizations.
For more information on the PSSSP program click on the link below:
https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033682/1531933580211
Click on the link below for the National program guidelines year:
This report reconfirms our commitment for a better future for our First Nations, and lays out an achievable path forward based on equitable/rights-based funding and First Nation control, with a special emphasis on preserving our cultures, languages and identities.
This position paper is part of the ongoing work at Chiefs of Ontario to regain control over our own education systems, teaching methods, course content, and institutional settings in k-12 education and higher education.
Recommends local jurisdiction over education; making language and culture central in education; the incorporation of First Nation values and ethics; supporting parental and community involvement; and lifelong learning.
Outlines our visions as First Nations view education as a process of nurturing learners in linguistically and culturally-appropriate, holistic learning environments that meet individual and collective needs, thereby ensuring that all First Nations people achieve their personal and collective visions within lifelong comprehensive learning systems.
This document produced by COO recommends that “Canada must take real action on the recommendations of previous studies and honour Treaty, legal, and constitutional obligations to work with First Nations to address the funding barriers identified and ensure the education funding provided supports the holistic, lifelong learning needs of all levels First Nations education in Ontario.”
The federal government’s Post Secondary Education (PSE) program has three parts –the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) which provides funding for student costs, the Indian Studies Support Program (ISSP) which funds accredited post-secondary programming for First Nations people and the University and College Entrance Preparation (UCEP) which provides financial assistance to help students to attain the academic level required for admittance to post-secondary education programs.
An internal audit in 2009 of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) post-secondary education programming confirmed the existence of flaws in administration and accountability of the PSE. The federal government has since failed to include First Nations in designing a solution to the identified flaws.
Currently hundreds of First Nation students are denied access to post secondary education and training on a yearly basis due to the inadequacy of funds provided by the federal Post Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP).
The federal government also provides some funding to Indigenous Institutes of Higher Learning, of which there are nine in Ontario, through the Post Secondary Partnerships Program (formerly the Indian Studies Support Program). Recent changes to the Program compromise the capacity of our Indigenous Institutes of Higher Learning in Ontario.
At this point, the Education Coordination Unit continues to monitor possible changes to the PSE program and advocate for continued and increasing First Nation control in the area of post secondary education and funding.
On the provincial level the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities continues to support First Nations’ post secondary and training efforts through their Aboriginal Post Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework (APSET). The ECU currently participates in the MTCU External Working Group which is in the process of producing a progress report and implementation plan to the Policy Framework.
The ECU continues to support the Aboriginal Institutes Consortium (AIC) in their quest to gain accreditation for Indigenous post-secondary institutes in Ontario. This initiative is outlined in their Roadmap to Recognition document.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program that can help students pay for college or university.
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