Indigenous

It’s more important than ever that Indigenous children in elementary and secondary schools study science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). STEM fields are critical to the future of work in Canada. Studies show there’s high demand for jobs requiring expertise in STEM areas. In fact, they’re growing by 4.6 per cent a year in Canada, compared to the 1.8 per cent annual growth of the job market as a whole.

Op-ed  |  3-min read
January 21, 2021
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

In response to a national conversation about reconciliation, governments, the formal education system, and non-profit organizations are wanting to address educational gaps and improve the representation of Indigenous peoples in STEM with extra attention and resources. This awareness, combined with an increasing focus on equity issues in STEM, has increased efforts to bring STEM outreach to Indigenous students.

Impact paper  |  25-min read
December 9, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

The transition from high school to post-secondary education (PSE) is a time of uncertainty for many students. Educational, cultural, and economic challenges make this transition even more complex for Indigenous learners transferring into PSE in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Issue briefing  |  14-min read
December 9, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

Indigenous Institutes play an essential role in helping Indigenous peoples—Canada’s fastest-growing population prepare for the labour market. And they bring a distinctly Indigenous lens to higher education. Many are looking for ways to support Indigenous learners and provide culturally safe spaces for learning and research.

Issue briefing  |  14-min read
December 7, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

Industrial development drives economic potential for Indigenous people. Realizing that potential requires a long-term commitment by Indigenous leaders, industry, and governments to build prosperity aligned with Indigenous values and community development.

Issue briefing  |  15-min read
November 9, 2020
Focus Area—Sustainability

The Indigenous population in Canada is younger and growing more rapidly than any other socio-demographic segment in the country. Expanding resource development opportunities and increasing recognition of Indigenous rights are creating unique economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

Impact paper  |  32-min read
October 13, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

Engineers frequently deal with practical problems. But how well are engineering schools preparing them for situations where cultural differences can make or break a project? Indigenizing post-secondary education (PSE) can sound abstract. But it is essentially about making all students more conscious of Canada’s Indigenous realities which, in turn, better prepares students for the real world.

Commentary  |  4-min read
October 7, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

The political moment unfolding now is an opportunity to take transformative action against systemic racism and discrimination. How do we ensure that this moment becomes more than, well, a moment?

Commentary  |  4-min read
September 24, 2020
Focus Area—Inclusion

In a world shaken by the pandemic crisis and social inequality, many voices are now calling for measures to build a more inclusive society and economy. In Canada’s North, Inuit have been developing their own vision of inclusive growth, one where they share the same quality of life as all Canadians.

Op-ed  |  4-min read
June 24, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

Pandemics and diseases loom large in the history of Indigenous groups in Canada. Past outbreaks have had devastating outcomes, fueled by colonial policies and persistent inequalities.

Commentary  |  4-min read
June 15, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

This primer identifies general trends in the current population of Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada, examines the various reasons individuals choose entrepreneurship, and explores the challenges Indigenous entrepreneurs face in the North.

Primer  |  35-min read
June 15, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

This primer identifies general trends in the current population of Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada, examines the various reasons individuals choose entrepreneurship, and explores the challenges Indigenous entrepreneurs face in the North.

Primer  |  40-min read
June 11, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

When educators use a culturally responsive curriculum—one that bridges Indigenous ways of knowing with Western science—Indigenous students are more engaged and perform better.

Primer  |  30-min read
June 9, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

When Canada’s rural and remote Indigenous communities face emergencies, they often lack the resources and supports common to most Canadian towns and cities. But despite being at a comparative disadvantage, these communities generally manage to respond.

Commentary  |  4-min read
May 1, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

There is almost universal consensus on what is required to support a more sustainable northern economy—infrastructure. There is considerable disagreement, however, about how to get government and industry to invest in the necessary economic infrastructure and how best to finance and sustain that infrastructure.

Impact paper  |  44-min read
April 22, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

The threat of COVID-19 looms large for many rural and remote Indigenous communities in Canada. These communities are especially concerned about the vulnerability of their Elders and the irreplaceable knowledge they hold.

Online experience  |  8-min read
April 20, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

The coronavirus crisis of 2020 has exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the Canadian health care system. This is particularly true in Canada’s North, where isolated Indigenous communities face the prospects of widespread infection with great anxiety. The remoteness of Northern settlements—coupled with serious housing shortages, overcrowded homes, and limited health care services—heighten the dangers of the pandemic.

Commentary  |  3-min read
April 6, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

Although it might seem like science fiction, remote surgery is a rapidly emerging technology. Space agencies and militaries are especially interested in developing safe, reliable remote surgery tools. From a technology standpoint, the moment a surgeon is no longer personally handling the surgical tools, distance becomes irrelevant. If surgeons can be five metres away from a patient, they could be 50 metres, 50 kilometres, or even 500 kilometres away.

Online experience  |  8-min read
April 6, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

In Canada, there are consistent gaps in both employment and income between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. These gaps aren’t uniform, either. Between on-reserve First Nations, off-reserve First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, as well as between men and women, noticeable differences exist. This is holding back economic growth and hurting economic reconciliation.

Online experience  |  8-min read
March 26, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

In 1972 the Assembly of First Nations—launched a movement by First Nations to reclaim control of their education. Fifty years on, many forms of Indigenous-centred post-secondary education (PSE) exist in Canada. All of them aspire to help Indigenous students succeed.

Online experience  |  8-min read
March 26, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities

About 4 per cent of Canadian adults are Indigenous. But less than 2 per cent of people working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations are. Improving Indigenous participation and leadership in major economic sectors, such as science, technology, and finance, is an important part of the reconciliation journey.

Online experience  |  8-min read
March 26, 2020
Focus Area—Indigenous & Northern Communities