Preamble

Indigenous Service Canada (ISC) is committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous partners in transforming the way the Department adapts and implements policy and program reform. These national program guidelines are consistent with the terms and conditions that have been discussed with and informed by First Nations convened by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). On December 3, 2018, the AFN Special Chiefs Assembly passed Resolution #05/2018, which supported the First Nations Post-Secondary Education Policy Proposal to the Government of Canada. In developing the terms and conditions, First Nations partners have noted that they do not view this strategy as a matter of social policy, and have asked that the following statements from the Policy Proposal be included: First Nations assert their right and responsibility to direct and make decisions regarding all matters relating to First Nations lifelong learning as an inherent and Treaty Right. First Nations assert an inherent and Treaty right to education that is in accordance with their cultures, values, traditions and languages to support holistic lifelong learning.

First Nations are seeking strengthened Government of Canada support for First Nations postsecondary education through Treaty-based, self-government and/or regional models that enable First Nations control of First Nations education. Building on current best practices, the implementation of regional models will enable First Nations to holistically consider, design and implement a suite of integrated programs and services to comprehensively support post-secondary education attainment and success. Models must respect and promote local control, honouring the autonomy of First Nations to dictate their own models that will not minimize the flexibilities that First Nations communities currently have. These models, once created, must be First Nations-directed and managed.

The following Local Guidelines and Procedures Manual: Post-Secondary Student Support Program is designed fairly and equitably for current and future post-secondary students. Rates of assistance will be reviewed from time to time and amended, if needed.

The Post-Secondary Student Support Program is administered by the Listuguj Education Directorate (LED).