A new initiative aimed at increasing the number of Indigenous teachers across Canada is seeking to address longstanding educational gaps faced by Indigenous students. The Rideau Hall Foundation launched the Indigenous Teacher Education Initiative in 2022, with the goal of recruiting and retaining 10,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teachers nationwide. The program also focuses on understanding the barriers Indigenous educators face and what motivates them to enter the teaching profession.

One recent example of the initiative’s impact is the University of British Columbia’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program, which opened a field centre last September in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The centre offers the university’s full bachelor of education program to more than 40 Indigenous students from the surrounding region. With nearly $1 million in funding from the Rideau Hall Foundation, the program expects to graduate at least 25 new Indigenous teachers within four years, significantly enhancing the staffing of a school district where 63 percent of students identify as Indigenous.

The importance of increasing Indigenous representation among educators is underscored by research showing Indigenous students perform better academically when taught by teachers who share their cultural background. Dustin Louie, director of UBC’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program, noted the lack of Indigenous role models in the classroom can limit students’ aspirations and contribute to a cycle of underrepresentation in the teaching profession.

The move aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 2015 calls to action, which urged federal agencies to collaborate with Indigenous communities to close educational and employment gaps. Evelyn Steinhauer, associate dean of Indigenous teacher education at the University of Alberta, emphasized that graduation rates for First Nations youth remain significantly lower than for their non-Indigenous peers—63 percent versus 91 percent nationally, according to 2016 census data. The graduation disparity is even more pronounced for students living on reserves, where the rate drops to 46 percent.

Steinhauer’s program at the University of Alberta recently received nearly $1 million from the foundation to support up to 90 Indigenous teacher candidates annually through 2029. The funding is intended to incorporate traditional practices and perspectives into education programs and provide mentorship opportunities, fostering stronger ties between future teachers and their communities.

Indigenous educators are critical for ensuring cultural understanding and continuity in classrooms serving Indigenous students. Louie pointed out that many teachers in remote Indigenous communities come from outside and often only stay temporarily, which can hinder students’ trust and engagement. Training community members to become teachers helps establish stability and relevance in local education.

Beyond benefiting Indigenous students, experts note that Indigenous teachers enrich the learning experiences of all students. Nicole Bell, an associate professor at Trent University specializing in Indigenous culture-based education, said teaching methods developed for Indigenous educators have been shown to improve outcomes for diverse student populations. Louie added that broader exposure to Indigenous perspectives can foster greater understanding and reshape worldviews among non-Indigenous students.

The collective efforts to increase Indigenous representation in the teaching profession represent a significant strategy to improve educational equity and strengthen communities nationwide.