Indigenous education in Canada facts for kids

Indigenous education in Canada is all about how young people from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities get their schooling. These groups are often called Indigenous peoples in Canada. In Canada, education for Indigenous students is a shared responsibility. This means that Indigenous communities, local governments, and the federal government all work together on it.

For a long time, Indigenous peoples in Canada faced many challenges with education. They often had fewer chances to get a good education compared to other Canadians. This is a big issue that many people are working to fix. There are many discussions about how to make education better for Indigenous students.

One important part of this discussion is understanding the history of residential schools. These schools were set up for Indigenous children from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. They often separated children from their families and cultures. This system caused many problems for Indigenous education that are still felt today.

People also talk about other important topics. These include how much money is available for Indigenous schools, making sure students in far-away communities can go to school, and making sure learning respects Indigenous cultures and languages. It's also important to help Indigenous students succeed in schools that are not specifically for Indigenous people.

Learning Beyond High School

Getting an education after high school is very important. This includes going to colleges, trade schools, or universities.

Closing the Education Gap

The good news is that the difference in education levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians has been getting smaller. This is especially true for trade programs and college diplomas. Between 2006 and 2016, almost all of this gap disappeared! This means more Indigenous students are getting these types of qualifications.

However, there is still a big difference when it comes to university degrees. For example, in 2016, about 45% of non-Indigenous Canadians had a university degree. But only about 22% of Indigenous people had one. This number was even lower for First Nations people living on reserves, at about 15%.

Why Higher Education Matters

Universities Canada explains that Indigenous students sometimes face big challenges when trying to go to college or university. Because of this, fewer First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people in Canada have university degrees compared to other Canadians.

Indigenous peoples face significant barriers to postsecondary education. As a result, far fewer First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada have a university degree than non-Indigenous Canadians. Education is vital to the reconciliation process and universities are committed to helping Indigenous students achieve their potential through higher education.

Universities help advance reconciliation by revitalizing Indigenous languages, ensuring Indigenous representation in governance and leadership structures, and bringing Indigenous knowledge and culture to campus. Still much more remains to be done.

Education is a key part of "reconciliation." This means working to fix past harms and build a better future together. Universities are trying to help Indigenous students reach their full potential through higher education.

How Universities Help

Universities are helping with reconciliation in several ways:

• They are working to bring back and strengthen Indigenous languages.
• They are making sure Indigenous people are part of university leadership and decision-making.
• They are bringing Indigenous knowledge and culture into campus life and learning.

Even with these efforts, there is still a lot more work to do to make sure all Indigenous students have the best educational opportunities.