Great teachers have the power to change lives. For First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, having Indigenous educators in their schools can mean seeing their cultures, languages, histories and ways of knowing reflected in their education – and seeing themselves reflected in positions of leadership.
Since 2022, the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Indigenous Teacher Education (ITE) initiative has been working alongside Indigenous communities, institutions and organizations to strengthen pathways into teaching and help Indigenous educators thrive throughout their careers.
To date, the RHF has committed $21.9 million to Indigenous teacher education, supporting Indigenous-led approaches to recruitment, teacher education and retention.
On November 2, the next round of ITE funding will open, building on what we have learned through previous grants, research, conversations across the Indigenous teacher education ecosystem and the guidance of the National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education (NACITE).
Two funding streams, one shared goal
This year, funding will be offered through two complementary streams: Retain, an open competitive grant, and Thrive, a targeted, invitation-only funding stream.
Retain will be an open call to eligible Indigenous teacher education programs, organizations and communities, with $1 million in funding available. Organizations can apply for grants of up to $200,000 for projects of up to three years. This year’s call will focus on retaining Indigenous educators, including teacher candidates, teachers, school administrators and educational assistants.
Projects may focus on mentorship and coaching, wellness and wraparound supports, professional development, and language and culturally grounded teaching supports.
Thrive will use a targeted, invitation-only approach, with $10 million in funding available. Organizations and institutions will be invited to apply for longer-term funding of up to $1 million over as many as five years, based on identified needs and opportunities across the Indigenous teacher education system.
Why a targeted approach?
Our previous open call generated significant interest and gave the RHF a much clearer picture of the work happening across the country, as well as where important gaps remain.
Over the past three years, applications, conversations with applicants, research and guidance from NACITE have helped identify where additional investment could make a meaningful difference. This includes regional and funding gaps, under-recognized organizations doing important work, and opportunities to strengthen Indigenous teacher education at a system level.
Rather than ask organizations to invest significant time preparing applications for a limited pool of funding when some of these needs have already been identified, Thrive allows the RHF to use this evidence to target funding more intentionally.
Invitations will include organizations and institutions identified through this work, including previous applicants. An invitation does not guarantee funding: invited organizations will still be required to submit an application and go through an adjudication process.
At the same time, Retain remains open and competitive, giving eligible organizations and communities the opportunity to bring forward their ideas.
Together, the two streams allow the RHF to respond to identified gaps and opportunities while continuing to learn from and invest in ideas emerging from communities.
Applications open November 2
Full grant guidelines will be available on November 2, along with the application scoring matrix, a preview of the application form and information sessions to help applicants prepare. Applications will remain open until March 2027. Visit our website for more information.
We’re excited to build on the work already underway and continue investing in Indigenous-led approaches that help more First Nations, Inuit and Métis people enter teaching and build long, fulfilling careers as educators.
With Gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation
The Rideau Hall Foundation is grateful for the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation. Their partnership is helping to build a future where Indigenous educators are supported, celebrated, and leading transformative change in communities across Canada. Together, we are advancing meaningful, Indigenous-led solutions in education.
