First Nations Education: From Residential Schools to Indigenous-Controlled Schools
Indigenous children learning in a modern classroom decorated with First Nations artwork
A History Written in Loss
For over a century, the Canadian government's stated goal for Indigenous education was cultural destruction. The residential school system — which forcibly separated over 150,000 children from their families — deliberately dismantled language, culture, and community bonds. The last residential school did not close until 1996. Understanding this history is the starting point for any honest conversation about Indigenous education today.
The Right to Control Education
The 1972 National Indian Brotherhood policy paper Indian Control of Indian Education marked a turning point. It articulated a vision of community-controlled schools that would honour Indigenous languages, values, and knowledge systems. More than 50 years later, that vision is being realized — imperfectly, but with growing momentum.
"Education is the key to our survival as distinct peoples. But it must be education on our terms, in our languages, on our land."
— Ovide Mercredi, former National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Indigenous Language Immersion Schools
Some of the most exciting developments in Indigenous education are the growth of language immersion schools. Initiatives like the Sq'ewlets Band School in BC and the Cree School Board in Quebec are producing graduates who are fluent in their ancestral languages — something that seemed impossible a generation ago.
Challenges That Remain
Despite progress, Indigenous students on reserve continue to receive less federal funding per pupil than provincial students receive in most provinces. High school graduation rates on reserve, while improving, remain well below the national average. Access to post-secondary education remains constrained by funding limits and geographic barriers.
- First Nations university graduation rates have doubled in the last two decades
- Over 50 First Nations-controlled post-secondary institutions now operate in Canada
- Indigenous Studies programs at major universities have expanded significantly
- Land-based education is being formally integrated into curricula across the country
The Path Forward
The First Nations Education Act, though controversial in its original form, prompted important conversations about adequate funding and jurisdiction. Today, many advocates are pushing for a new federal framework that fully transfers educational jurisdiction to First Nations governments and provides equitable, needs-based funding.