ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 Contents 2 Message from the Chair 3 Message from the President and CEO 4 2018–2019 by the Numbers 5 Indigenous Education is Enriching Canada Canada’s Future Growth 6 Indspire’s K–12 Institute: through Indigenous Promoting Indigenous Education 9 National Gathering education and for Indigenous Education by inspiring 10 Guiding the Journey: achievement. Indigenous Educator Awards 11 Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering 12 Building Brighter Futures (BBF): Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards 14 2019 Indspire Awards 16 Board of Directors and President & CEO 17 Indspire Staff 18 Sponsors and Donors ($100K+) 33 LIFT and Indspire INDSPIRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO David Tuccaro Roberta L. Jamieson hank you for believing in Indspire and We currently meet 22 per cent of student ke:no. I’m Roberta Jamieson, President This past year, Indspire awarded a record continuing to champion Indigenous applicants’ needs. We know we have to do better and CEO of Indspire. We’re excited to $16.3 million through 5,553 scholarships and education and support of First Nations, and believe that together we can achieve this. share with you the stories and highlights bursaries to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students T Indeed, we have had a record year, disbursing S across Canada. On average, 90 per cent of Indspire- Inuit and Métis students across Canada who are more than $16 million in 5,553 bursaries and of this past year. supported students graduate. While these numbers realizing their dreams and graduating from post- scholarships — a year of unprecedented impact for Each year, I have the opportunity to meet First are impressive, what is truly inspiring are the stories secondary institutions; many of these students Indigenous students and one we intend to pursue Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada. behind these numbers, some of which we’ve shared are the first person in their families to do so. We in our growth strategy over the coming year. With every student that I meet, and through in this report. They demonstrate how we can truly truly appreciate our private and public funders impact the lives of Indigenous people. We have set ourselves the ambitious challenges of the stories that they tell about their educational who continue to invest in our social impact increasing our bursary and scholarship applications journey, the more I believe that Indspire can fulfil I also speak with many of our donors, who are across the country. Through our programs this by 25 per cent and increasing funding for students its purpose — that within a generation, every committed to providing their support so that past year, we reached some 7,856 students. by more than 40 per cent. In the coming year, we Indigenous student will graduate. Indigenous students can achieve their highest When we add the CBC reach, we are connecting will make a huge investment in technology to better Some of their stories came out in a survey we potential. They know that investing in the with more than 630,000 Canadians! serve and support our students. As we do that, we conducted of First Nations, Inuit and Métis education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are monitoring their success through our National students across the country in 2018. I encourage will not only benefit these individuals, their families Senator Murray Sinclair, former chair of the Education Survey to be conducted again in 2020. you to read the full report at indspire.ca to hear, and communities, but Canada as a whole. Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has said that in their voices, what students are experiencing on education provides one of the greatest hopes for On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our Once again, Indspire received a four-star rating campuses across the country. repairing cultural attitudes, redressing the legacy leader, Roberta Jamieson, and her dedicated staff. from Charity Intelligence, and named us a Top of Indian Residential Schools, and advancing the Thank you for your continued support. Together, I am so pleased that the federal government 10 Canadian Impact Charity. Indspire was also process of reconciliation. Through its support we are making a difference for thousands of chose to significantly increase its investment in the recognized by Maclean’s magazine in 2019 as of thousands of students each year, Indspire is First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students a top-rated charity for Canadians to support. contributing to the success of First Nations, Inuit this country. in its 2019 budget. For Indspire, this meant an To the dedicated and hard-working staff, to and Métis learners, the process of reconciliation additional $9 million over three years — one David Tuccaro, the chair of our board, and all the and ultimately realizing its purpose that within a David Tuccaro Chair, Board of Directors further step towards increasing Indigenous student board directors, to governments, to corporations generation, every Indigenous student will graduate. success and closing the gap between Indigenous and individual Canadians who support Indspire and Click here to see our audited statements. and non-Indigenous learners. make our work possible, I thank you in the language of my people: Nia: wen! Roberta L. Jamieson President & CEO 2 INDSPIRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 INDSPIRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 3 2018–2019 BY THE NUMBERS More than $115,000,000 Indigenous Education is provided to students since 2004 Canada’s Future Growth In an increasingly interconnected world, Canada is in a global race for talent. Fortunately, Canada has a ready supply of labour, energy and enterprise right here at home. Indigenous peoples are the fastest growing Indspire provides hundreds of scholarships, bursaries demographic cohort, and they are younger than the and awards to thousands of Indigenous students Canadian average. More than 130,000 Indigenous every year through its Building Brighter Futures people aged 17–51 will be eligible to attend Program. Since 2004, Indspire has provided over post-secondary university by 2023. They are a key $115 million in financial support to more than piece of Canada’s economic engine. In fact, the 37,500 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students. Centre for the Study of Living Standards estimates Ninety per cent of students who have received that if we close the education and labour market funding have graduated from a post-secondary gaps for Indigenous people in Canada by 2031, institution. Fifty per cent of graduates continue Canada’s GDP could gain $36 billion. toward another post-secondary credential, and most importantly, 50 per cent of employed recipients Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that work in fields that support Indigenous people. invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these As a society and a country, we have the individuals, their families and communities, and responsibility to ensure all our students have what Canada. With the support of its funding partners, they need to follow their dreams and make the Indspire provides financial awards, delivers most of future opportunities. Not only is this vital programs and shares resources so that First to advancing reconciliation, but it will also make Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve our country stronger, more innovative and more their highest potential. inclusive. It will make us all better able to thrive in a changing world and a shifting global economy. More than Approximately Over 37,500 90% 50% awards distributed of recipients will graduate of recipient graduates have since 2004 continued towards another post-secondary credential About Only About 42% 5% 50% of recipient graduates of recipient graduates had of employed recipients have obtained not secured employment work in fields that support employment Indigenous people 4 INDSPIRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 INDSPIRE • ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 5 Indspire’s K–12 Institute: Promoting Indigenous Education RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES SPOTLIGHT Peer Support: NURTURING Successful Practices: Spirit Bear and Children Make History: Educator Mentorship CAPACITY SPOTLIGHT Showcasing Strategies that Work Spirit Bear Book Learning Guide Peer Support is a mentorship and Seven Oaks School Division, Successful Practices include documented research, Spirit Bear and Children Make History is written by coaching program for educators Winnipeg, MB, Researcher: frameworks, models, and educational strategies that First Nations educators (Dr. Cindy Blackstock and of Indigenous students. Indspire Dr. Niigaan Sinclair have worked to enhance kindergarten to Grade 12 Eddy Robinson) and illustrated by a First Nations pairs educators across Canada The Ojibwe Bilingual Program student success. Indspire evaluates and shares these artist (Amanda Strong). Produced by a national based on their professional at Riverbend Community proven practices on the Indspire website, through charitable organization, the Caring Society works learning goals and provides School is a community-based webinars and at Indspire’s National Gathering, for to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nations support online to this learning elementary-level initiative, the benefit of Indigenous education stakeholders youth and their families. community through webinars, located in Seven Oaks School nationwide. Practices are evaluated using seven and other professional Division in Winnipeg, Canada. principles, which were founded in consultation with Spirit Bear and Children Make History was written development tools. Opened in September 2016, it national Indigenous scholars. The principles honour to engage a younger audience in learning about is a dual-track program where “ Together, my mentee and The top five goals for the Indigenous ways of knowing and values. the child-welfare case, and to demonstrate and students receive 50 per cent I inspire each other to learn, 2018–2019 Peer Support affirm the powerful role of young people in the of their school day instruction share, seek, and develop program were: reconciliation movement.