Overview
First Nations Colleges and Indigenous adult learning providers offer post-secondary and adult learning opportunities in an Indigenous context.
Students benefit from culturally responsive wrap-around supports, including access to cultural knowledge and practices that are integral to academic achievement and personal wellbeing.
First Nations Colleges
First Nations Colleges deliver:
- foundational learning
- preparatory programs
- training programs
- credentialed programs, including Indigenous language and cultural knowledge
Some programs are offered in partnership with other Alberta publicly funded post-secondary institutions. These colleges develop and approve mandates to guide their operations.
First Nations Colleges in Alberta
College | Programs | Location | Mandate |
---|---|---|---|
Maskwacis Cultural College | Foundational Learning
Adult Education
Certificates
Diplomas
Degrees
Graduate Degrees
| Kisipatnahk Education Centre, Louis Bull Tribe, Alberta | Maskwacis Cultural College mandate |
Old Sun Community College | Foundational Learning
Adult Education
Diplomas
Degrees
Graduate Degrees
| Siksika Nation, Alberta | Old Sun Community College mandate |
Red Crow Community College | Foundational Learning
Certificates
Diplomas
Degrees
| Kainai Nation/Blood Tribe and Lethbridge, Alberta | About Red Crow Community College |
University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills | Foundational Learning
Programs
Certificates
Diplomas
Degrees
Graduate Programs
| Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve, Alberta | University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills mandate |
Yellowhead Tribal College | Foundational Learning
Diplomas
Degrees
| Edmonton | Yellowhead Tribal College mandate |
Transfer agreements
Most of these colleges (except Old Sun Community College) are part of Alberta’s transfer & pathways system. This allows students to transfer their post-secondary education between programs and institutions.
Learn more about transfer opportunities by either:
- asking the college you want to attend about transfer opportunities
- using the Transfer Alberta search tool to search for transfer opportunities
Other Indigenous learning providers
Other Indigenous adult learning providers can be either a:
- non-profit community organization serving local foundational learning and employment readiness needs or
- training institute offering accredited programs and belonging to Alberta’s transfer & pathways system
Other Indigenous adult learning providers include:
Learning provider | Programs | Location | Mandate |
---|---|---|---|
Indspire |
| Head Office 50 Generations Drive Six Nations of the Grand River Ohsweken, Ontario with offices/services offered interprovincially | Indspire |
Kayas Cultural College |
| John D’or Prairie | Kayas Cultural College |
Lac La Biche Regional Awasisak and Family Development Circle Association |
| Lac La Biche & Kikino Métis Settlement | Lac La Biche Regional Awasisak and Family Development Circle Association |
Riel Institute for Education & Learning |
| Calgary | Riel Institute for Education & Learning mandate |
Rupertsland Institute |
| Edmonton | Rupertsland Institute |
Funding support
Government supports for Indigenous adult and post-secondary education aim to improve access to adult and post-secondary education for Indigenous learners.
Budget 2025 included $7.5 million for Indigenous adult and post-secondary education providers.