First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers are dramatically under-represented in Canada’s educational system. At the Rideau Hall Foundation, we believe all Canadian students stand to benefit from having more First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers in classrooms and recognize that this representation has transformational impacts on the lives of Indigenous young people, families and entire communities. We are humbled to be moving forward with a transformational initiative aiming to support the hiring of 10,000 Indigenous teachers in the coming years. Program leadership will be provided by RHF board directors Roberta Jamieson, OC and Dr. Mark Dockstator serving as Co-Chairs of the RHF’s new National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education, this work will be mobilized through sector-wide partnerships and investments in excess of $45 million towards innovative, community-driven approaches.
We are honoured to have the lead support of the Mastercard Foundation to enable this work with a significant philanthropic investment towards future impact.
“Our work at the Mastercard Foundation aims to support Indigenous youth on their journeys through education and on to meaningful livelihoods in accordance with their aspirations. This initiative with Rideau Hall Foundation helps to advance both important objectives,” said Jennifer Brennan, Head, Canada Programs for the Mastercard Foundation. “We are committed to listening and acting in the direction of Indigenous youth and their communities. Enabling a new generation of Indigenous educators will contribute to building Indigenous education systems and create a hopeful future for Indigenous learners.”
This project will be formed and guided by partnerships, stakeholder involvement, and consultation with leaders and educators that allow the RHF to walk humbly in relationship with the communities we aim to serve. Therefore, we are seeking the expertise, experience and knowledge of an Indigenous-led Advisory Committee that can help this initiative reach its fullest potential.
“Supporting Inuit, Métis and First Nations teacher education is key to our collective reconciliation journey,” said Bill Mintram, Director of Northern and Indigenous Affairs for Rideau Hall Foundation. “By acknowledging our shared histories and recognizing the current opportunity for Indigenous teachers this is an opportunity for transformational change across educational landscapes from coast to coast to coast.”
The program will be built with direction from the National Advisory Committee on Indigenous Teacher Education, while the Rideau Hall Foundation provides backbone support as a convenor. It is a relationship-based initiative with direct partnerships to key delivery organizations building accessible, sustainable, and meaningful pathways into the teaching profession.
Future investment within the Indigenous teacher education space will be made available to a variety of Indigenous organizations, Indigenous institutions, academic institutions, and other relevant entities who are involved in supporting pathways for future Indigenous teachers.
More news and developments will be announced over the coming year as the initiative takes shape and is guided by First Nations, Inuit and Métis excellence, expertise and experience. We look forward to sharing more about this journey.
