RRC Polytech has released a new report called Our Roadmap Forward - Ensuring the Success of Indigenous Students to address longstanding systemic barriers and improve post-secondary outcomes for Indigenous learners.
The report originated from the Overcoming Barriers for Indigenous Students project that launched in 2022. Through extensive, community-guided research and analysis, the project identified 73 root factors that influence Indigenous student success.
"This report reflects what students, communities, and partners have been telling us for years: that meaningful change requires us to address barriers at their roots," says Jamie Wilson, Vice-President, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development, RRC Polytech. "By listening, learning, and acting on this knowledge, we are committed to transforming our systems so Indigenous learners can thrive. This is not a single initiative, but a long-term commitment to equity, accountability, and student success in every sense - academic, cultural, and personal."
Statistics Canada data highlights the urgency of this work: as of 2024, 49.2 per cent of Indigenous people aged 25 to 64 had completed post-secondary education, compared to 68 per cent of non-Indigenous people, resulting in a gap of 18.8 per cent.
The report emphasizes that improving outcomes requires systemic change and is structured around five priority areas:
- Essential life needs
- Funding and enrolment
- Academic readiness
- Student experience
- Institutional culture
Together, these priorities provide a framework for meaningful change at both the campus and policy levels. Planned and ongoing initiatives include strengthening supports such as housing and childcare, aligning programs with community needs, and fostering environments where Indigenous students experience belonging, cultural safety, and success throughout their educational journeys.
"For me, my education started when I finished school - when I was finding myself. Now, students have access to Ceremony when they come here, they have ways to find themselves, ways to heal," says Paul Guimond, Elder-in-Residence, RRC Polytech. "This generation feels the impact of the last generation and it doesn't go away if we don't deal with it. And this generation is trying so hard to understand the past and how to move forward. We need to help that, we need to mentor that. We need to help them heal, so they can get educated and move forward."
The report also highlights existing initiatives across the Polytech that directly or indirectly address identified barriers while outlining future actions to build on this progress. By understanding and addressing the 73 root factors, RRC Polytech aims to implement strategies that improve everyday student experiences while advancing policies grounded in equity.
Our Roadmap Forward - Ensuring the Success of Indigenous Students is available here. Ongoing updates will continue as collaboration with Nations, educators, and partners advances efforts to reduce barriers and support Indigenous learners.
