Indigenous learning providers

Explore a post-secondary education rooted in Indigenous languages, worldviews and cultures in Alberta.

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

CollegeProgramsLocationMandate
Maskwacis Cultural College

Foundational Learning

  • Adult Literacy Program
  • Adult Education Program (AEP)

Adult Education

  • University and College Entrance Preparation (UCEP)
  • Indigenous Crisis Intervention Worker Program
  • Cree Language Teacher Development Program (CLTD)
  • Community Healing Facilitator Training

Certificates

  • Cree language certificate and diploma programs
  • Early Childhood Development (ECD)
  • Maskwacis Administrative Assistant Certificate
  • Information Technology Certificate Program
  • Leadership and Administration Certificate

Diplomas

  • Indigenous Education Diploma
  • Indigenous Arts Diploma
  • Indigenous Social Work Diploma
  • Indigenous Business Management Diploma

Degrees

  • Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work
  • Indigenous Bachelor of Management
  • Indigenous Bachelor of Arts in Cree Language Degree

Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Education in Educational Studies-Indigenous Education
  • Indigenous Master of Social Work
Kisipatnahk Education Centre, Louis Bull Tribe, AlbertaMaskwacis Cultural College mandate
Old Sun Community College

Foundational Learning

  • Basic adult upgrading
  • High school adult upgrading

Adult Education

  • Career counselling
  • Computer literacy
  • Post-secondary student support program
  • University of Calgary outreach program

Diplomas

  • Bow Valley College LPN Diploma

Degrees

  • Bachelor of General Studies

Graduate Degrees

  • Masters of Education
Siksika Nation, AlbertaOld Sun Community College mandate
Red Crow Community College

Foundational Learning

  • Niitsitapi Literacy & Adult Upgrading Program

Certificates

  • Niitsitapi HCA Certificate Program
  • Niitsitapi Basic Science Program
  • Niitsitapi Agriculture Certificate
  • Niitsitapi Livestock Production Certificate
  • Niitsitapi Environmental Science Certificate (NESC)
  • Niitsitapi Education Assistant Certificate (NEAC)

Diplomas

  • Niitsitapi Business Administration Program
  • Indigenous Mental Health Diploma (IMHD)
  • Indigenous Language and Culture Diploma (ILCD)
  • 2+2 Niitsitapi Arts & Science Diploma program

Degrees

  • Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work (IBSW)
  • Niitsitapi Teacher Education Program (NTEP)
Kainai Nation/Blood Tribe and Lethbridge, AlbertaAbout Red Crow Community College
University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills

Foundational Learning

  • mâcîhtâtân

Programs

  • Addictions Counsellor Program
  • Indigenous Health Sciences
  • Health Care Aide
  • Cree and Dene languages and cultural knowledge programs
  • Indigenous Media Program

Certificates

  • Early Learning and Child Care Programs (Level 2 and Level 3)
  • Community Based Environmental Monitoring Training Program (CEMT)
  • nêhiyawêwin Certificate
  • Dene Language Certificate
  • Leadership Certificate

Diplomas

  • Social Work Diploma
  • Management Diploma
  • nêhiyawêwin Diploma
  • Dene Language Diploma

Degrees

  • Indigenous Teacher Education Program (B.Ed nêhiyaw okiskinohamâkêwak)
  • nêhiyawêwin Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts in Dene Language
  • Bachelor of Social Work Degree
  • Bachelors in Leadership and Management Degree

Graduate Programs

  • Masters of Arts in Indigenous Languages Degree
  • Indigenous Master of Education
  • Indigenous Master of Governance
  • Masters of Social Work Degree
  • iyiniw pimâtisiwin kiskeyihtamowin Doctoral Program (ipk-Doc)
Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve, AlbertaUniversity nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills mandate
Yellowhead Tribal College

Foundational Learning

  • Four Winds
  • University and College Entrance Preparation
  • University Studies

Diplomas

  • Indigenous Educational Assistant
  • Solar Panel Installation Diploma
  • Indigenous Social Work
  • Indigenous Administration Diploma

Degrees

  • Bachelor of Indigenous Language Revitalization
  • Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work
  • First Nation Health Administration Degree
EdmontonYellowhead 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 providerProgramsLocationMandate
Indspire
  • Indspire provides financial support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada to assist them in completing their post-secondary education.
Head Office 
50 Generations Drive
Six Nations of the Grand River
Ohsweken, Ontario with offices/services offered interprovincially
Indspire
Kayas Cultural College
  • adult academic upgrading programs
  • training in:
    • basic adult literacy
    • basic adult numeracy
    • CAEC (formerly GED) support
    • foundational life skills
    • child and family literacy
    • Microsoft Office
    • workplace safety
John D’or PrairieKayas Cultural College
Lac La Biche Regional Awasisak and Family Development Circle Association
  • Family Support Program
  • Elder’s Sacred Circle Program
  • Wellness and Counselling Services
  • Indigenous Youth Services Program
  • Indigenous Spirit Creations (Hospitality, tourism and employment related)
  • Indigenous Ways of Knowing Program (Cultural advisement/services and workshops)
  • Indigenous Learners Supports Program
  • Indigenous Parenting Program
  • General Support Services (individual and families)
  • Youth Centre Drop-in Services
Lac La Biche & Kikino Métis SettlementLac La Biche Regional Awasisak and Family Development Circle Association 
Riel Institute for Education & Learning
  • literacy and foundational learning
  • employability skills
  • life skills
  • family and youth support
  • cultural support
  • office administration
CalgaryRiel Institute for Education & Learning mandate
Rupertsland Institute
  • is an affiliate of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government that offers programs and services to supports Métis education, training and research.
EdmontonRupertsland 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.