Indigenous learning providers

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 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, Alberta	Maskwacis 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, Alberta	Old 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, Alberta	About 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, Alberta	University 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	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	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 Prairie	Kayas 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 Settlement	Lac 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	Calgary	Riel 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.	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.

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