Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy

Student financial support

Funding is allocated annually for direct financial support for Inuit post-secondary students. Eligible expenses include:

• transcript and application fees
• tuition and other students fees
• initial professional certification and examination fees
• books and supplies
• supplemental tutorial, guidance and counseling services
• living expenses, including for dependents, if applicable
• transportation support when needed
• expenses associated with travel home, including for dependents, as applicable
• child care, as needed

Programs and services

Funding is allocated annually for activities based on local needs assessments to promote students' pursuit of post-secondary education and the attainment of a credential. These include:

• support for academic readiness to enter and succeed at post-secondary studies
• wraparound services to students and their families such as:
  • student-peer mentorship
  • career counselling
  • Elder guidance
  • student cultural support
• outreach and navigation services
• cultural education and life-skills development
• information technology and remote location access to allow students the opportunity to complete distance education or online courses from their home communities

Community engagement

Funding is allocated annually for community-level activities focused on the benefits of post-secondary accreditation and preparing students leaving for post-secondary education. Eligible activities include:

• local sessions for prospective students about post-secondary opportunities, course offerings and program eligibility
• facilitating peer-to-peer transitions between prospective Inuit post-secondary students and alumni
• creating awareness, showcasing and celebrating success of alumni

Governance capacity

Eligible expenses for governance capacity include the human, information and physical infrastructure necessary to meet local and regional needs, including but not limited to:

• regional data collection and management
• regional needs assessment, research and analysis
• coordination amongst delivery organizations
• management of processes and systems to support delivery
• development of culturally relevant content (curricula, as required)

National coordination

To support the delivery of this strategy, 5% of annual funding will be provided to the National Coordination Secretariat (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) for staffing, information and physical infrastructure necessary to meet local and regional needs. Eligible expenses for national coordination activities may include, including but not limited to:

• national data collection and management
• national needs assessment and analysis
• engagement and partnerships
• management of national processes and systems to support delivery
• development of culturally relevant content (curricula, as required)
• post-secondary education trends and research analysis

Initial recipients

Initial recipients eligible to have a funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada in the fiscal year 2025 to 2026 are:

• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: representing the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in Northwest Territories
• Makivik Corporation: the organization representing the Inuit of Nunavik in Quebec
• Nunatsiavut Government: regional government of Nunatsiavut in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated: the organization representing the Inuit of Nunavut
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: National Coordination Secretariat

Each initial recipient will determine the mechanisms for funding distribution to the eligible ultimate recipients.

The National Coordination Secretariat will be determined by consensus of all Inuit land-claim organizations or their designates.

Ultimate recipients

Those who are eligible to receive funding distributed by the initial recipients are:

• Inuit who are beneficiaries of an Inuit land-claims agreement, regardless of where they reside in Canada
• community, education organizations and regional service providers, including, but not limited to:
  • child care services
  • employment programs
  • mental health supports
• post-secondary institutions with degrees, diplomas or certificates that are recognized by a provincial or territorial body