Post-Secondary Education

The AFN advocates for increased funding and stronger First Nations jurisdiction and control over First Nations post-secondary education and adult learning.

First Nations are exercising the right to self-determination and their self-government right to direct and make decisions regarding all aspects of education, including post-secondary education. First Nations have Inherent, constitutional, human, and Treaty rights to education that accords with their respective cultures, values, traditions and languages to support holistic lifelong learning.

First Nations require adequate, predictable, sustainable and equitable funding and resources to support strong student outcomes, develop local capacity, support community-based delivery of post-secondary education programs, and establish and advance First Nations post-secondary institutions through First Nations-led local, regional and Treaty-based post-secondary education models.

First Nations are in the process of negotiating and concluding their own post-secondary education models.

Education Infrastructure

First Nations students have an Inherent and Treaty right to education, including education infrastructure as part of their lifelong learning process. This includes the right to safe, equitable and sustainable education infrastructure that incorporates the unique needs of First Nations students.

The work in First Nations Education Infrastructure is mandated through the AFN Resolution 34/2019, First Nations Education Infrastructure Review. First Nations-in-Assembly resolved to support policy or program changes in regards to First Nations education infrastructure that reflect the true needs of our students. These needs include identifying and addressing the improvement required in capital, repairs, transportation, operations and maintenance and more.

The CCOE, NIEC, and the AFN have been mandated to lead this review that will ensure First Nations students have safe, adequate and sustainable education infrastructure.

Federal Commitments

Budget 2019

As of March 31, 2019, more than $585.7 million of targeted funds has been invested to support education-related infrastructure projects.

Budget 2016

Budget 2016 provided $969.4 million over 5 years for First Nations education infrastructure, in addition to $500 million remaining from Budget 2014.

It's Our Time: First Nations Education Digital Toolkit

The AFN has developed It’s Our Time First Nations Education Toolkit as the basis of a comprehensive strategy to reach out to First Nations students, teachers, schools, communities and the Canadian public at large.

The resource is designed to bring together First Nations and non-First Nations people and foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and action.

For more information please visit It’s Our Time: The AFN Education Toolkit

Technical and Chiefs Committees

First Nations-in-Assembly establish committees by way of resolution to lead work or take action on specific subjects. Once established, committee members are appointed following each region’s formal rules, policies, and procedures for the operations of the regional Assembly of First Nations (AFN) offices. Chiefs’ committees and technical committees provide recommendations to the AFN, the Executive Committee, and the First Nations-in-Assembly.

National Indian Education Council

The mandate of the National Indian Education Council (NIEC) is to use technical expertise and knowledge of grassroots and First Nations education to advise the Chiefs Committee on Education (CCOE) and the AFN on education matters relating to First Nations on a national level.

The NIEC also assists the CCOE in the development of new funding mechanisms for First Nations Education that support First Nations’ development of a holistic, culturally responsive, high-quality education for First Nations Students for joint collaboration.

Chiefs Committee on Education

The mandate of the CCOE is to provide political direction, advice and recommendations on education matters affecting First Nations to the National Chief and the AFN Executive Committee, and the AFN Languages and Learning Sector. While a national body, the CCOE will pass recommendations through a regional lens.

Raised Voices: Carriers of Hope

The Raised Voices: Carriers of Hope Youth Policy Forum on First Nations Education to brought together 36 First Nations youth from Nations across Canada between the ages of 13 and 18 to discuss their first-hand experiences and challenges in education.

Section 1:

Raised Voices: Carriers of Hope Calls to Action

The Carriers of Hope developed five Calls to Action on First Nations Education to address and support the mental, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing of all First Nations youth.

The Calls to Action:

• Honour and promote the contributions and advocacy of First Nations youth;
• Amplify youth priorities for improving First Nations education; and
• Call upon both First Nation and non-First Nation students, teachers, schools, and leadership, to take prompt action in their community to advance each Call to Action.

Section 2:

Recent Work:

• Calls to Action Documents 
  • HTG – Call Action 1
  • HTG – Call Action 2
  • HTG – Call Action 3
  • HTG – Call Action 4
  • HTG – Call Action 5
• Final Report (2019 & 2020)
• Full How-to Guide