WITHIN A GENERATION, EVERY INDIGENOUS STUDENT WILL GRADUATE 2019 – 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Table of Contents 02 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 03 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO 05 BY THE NUMBERS 06 RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE NEST (RN) 08 RIVERS TO SUCCESS (R2S) Enriching Canada through 10 NATIONAL GATHERING FOR INDIGENOUS EDUCATION 11 GUIDING THE JOURNEY: INDIGENOUS EDUCATOR AWARDS Indigenous education and 12 SOARING: INDIGENOUS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT GATHERING by inspiring achievement. 14 BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES: BURSARIES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS 16 INDSPIRE AWARDS 18 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES 19 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 20 SPONSORS AND DONORS ($100K+) 21 2019 NATIONAL GATHERING FOR INDIGENOUS EDUCATION 22 2020 SOARING: INDIGENOUS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE – OTTAWA 24 2020 INDSPIRE AWARDS 25 2020 A FEAST IN THE FOREST 26 BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES SUPPORTERS $100,000+ 28 ANNUAL DONORS 02 Indspire 2019–2020 INDSPIRE ● ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR David Tuccaro MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO Roberta L. Jamieson On behalf of Indspire’s Board of Directors, it is her intention to step away from her roles as my pleasure to share with you this report which President & CEO of Indspire and Executive highlights the achievements of Indspire over the Producer of the Indspire Awards. Since 2004, past 12 months. under Roberta’s leadership, financial support to First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students has At Indspire, we always challenge ourselves to are connected with Indigenous mentors who In 2019-2020, Indspire awarded an unprece- increased eightfold: 42,500 scholarship and lead with relevance and innovation. We firmly help them prioritize their own development, dented $17.8 million in scholarships, bursaries bursaries valued at over $132 million have been believe that improving educational attainment seek out exciting opportunities, and ultimately and awards to First Nations, Inuit and Métis distributed. Roberta has also launched many is the key to creating systemic change in com- achieve success in their chosen fields. students through the Building Brighter Futures ground-breaking initiatives during her tenure munities. In this context, and with the help (BBF) program. This represents an increase including the National Gathering for Indigenous of our partners, we launched two new initia- Our flagship program, Building Brighter of 9.2% over the previous year ($17.8 million Education, the Rivers to Success Indigenous tives this past year to better help us meet our Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards vs $16.3 million) - a new record. Indspire is Student Mentorship program and the Research goals: The Indspire Research Knowledge Nest continued to help students realize their edu- thrilled to be helping so many Indigenous stu- Knowledge Nest, just to name a few. The impact and the enhanced Rivers To Success: Indige- cational dreams. In 2019-20, Indspire awarded dents realize their dreams of having a post-sec- Roberta has had over the past 16 years on the nous Student Mentorship Program. an unprecedented $17.8 million in scholar- ondary education. With a graduation rate of lives of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Mé- ships, bursaries and awards to 5,124 First 90%, Indspire funded students are building tis students will be felt for generations to come. The first of its kind in Canada, the Research Nation, Inuit, and Métis students. Many of brighter futures for themselves and Indigenous Chi-miigwech (thank you). Nest’s mission is two-fold: to improve Indige- these graduates are creating systemic change people across Canada. None of this is possible nous educational attainment, labour market in their communities, with nearly 50% either without the generous support of government I’m happy to report that Dr. Mike DeGagné, outcomes and community prosperity through working for an Indigenous community or an and Indigenous leadership, sponsors and indi- the former President and Vice Chancellor ground-breaking Indigenous research; and to Indigenous-owned business. vidual donors from across Canada who invest of Yukon and Nipissing Universities, will be hire, train, and support the next generation of in our mission – we are deeply grateful. Indspire’s next President and CEO. With his Indigenous researchers. By gaining new, da- With the added stress of COVID-19, Indige- extensive background in public service and ta-driven insights into the impact of education nous students need help now more than ever. Despite all this, Indigenous people are still strug- his longstanding commitment to Indigenizing on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities Their success will make our country stronger, gling to obtain higher education within Canadian education across Canada, Mike is dedicated to while promoting the development of new more innovative and inclusive and better able school systems. Indspire was able to meet 22% strengthening Indspire’s voice as an authori- Indigenous researchers and analysts, we are to thrive in this changing world. These three of applicants’ financial needs last year and the tative source of information and support for laying the foundation for substantive changes programs are a significant step in support- COVID-19 pandemic has further added to the finan- Indigenous education. in how education can effect positive change in ing First Nations, Inuit and Métis students cial pressure the students are facing. We know we Indigenous communities. to achieve their potential through education have to do better and believe that together we can. David Tuccaro and training so they can in turn enrich their CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS To help guide students during their educa- communities and create positive change in Finally, on behalf of the board, I would like to tional journey, we expanded the Rivers To Canada. thank our courageous leader, Roberta Jamieson. CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR Success: Indigenous Student Mentorship In March 2020, Roberta publicly announced AUDITED STATEMENTS program. Through Rivers to Success, students Continued on page 4 → 022 Indspire INDSPIRE 2019–2020 ● ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 INDSPIRE ● ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO (CONTINUED) BY THE NUMBERS Roberta L. Jamieson More than On a personal note, in March 2020, I made velop into one of the Top 10 Charities of Im- public my intention to step away from my pact in Canada. I extend my heartfelt appre- roles as President & CEO of Indspire and ciation to the governments, corporations, $132,000,000 Executive Producer of the Indspire Awards foundations, First Nations, Inuit and Métis over the coming year. I am so proud to have leaders, and individual Canadians who have led an Indigenous organization that is mak- supported and continue to support Indspire provided to students ing systemic change within First Nations, and make our work possible. They believe Inuit and Métis communities and Canada as do I that with all of us working together for the past 16 years. I would like to say we can realize Indspire’s North Star vision: since 2004 Nia:wen (thank you ) to the hard-working Within a generation, every Indigenous stu- staff who are so passionately committed to dent will graduate. our work, to David Tuccaro, the chair of our OVER CLOSE TO board, and all the board of directors who Roberta L. Jamieson have provided the courageous and solid PRESIDENT AND CEO OF INDSPIRE guidance Indspire required to grow and de- EXECUTIVE PRODUCER INDSPIRE AWARDS 42,500 50% AWARDS DISTRIBUTED OF EMPLOYED BBF RECIPIENTS SINCE 2004 WORK IN FIELDS THAT SUPPORT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES APPROXIMATELY 90% 815 OF BBF RECIPIENTS ATTENDED NATIONAL GATHERING GRADUATE FOR INDIGENOUS EDUCATION NOVEMBER 20 – 22, 2019 TORONTO, ON APPROXIMATELY 90% 600+ OF BBF GRADUATES INDIGENOUS STUDENTS & CHAPERONES HAVE OBTAINED ATTENDED SOARING YOUTH EMPOWERMENT EMPLOYMENT GATHERING MARCH 5 - 6, 2020 OTTAWA, ON 024 Indspire INDSPIRE 2019–2020 ● ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 INDSPIRE ● ANNUAL REPORT 2019–2020 5 RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE NEST (RN) Fostering the Future Not every job allows you to shape the future always been at the forefront of the work I’m en- – and not just your own future, but that of gaged with. And this includes the work I carry out Indigenous research in Canada! within Indspire’s Research Knowledge Nest. It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.” But Colt Burrows’s job does. The very first Re- searcher hired by Indspire’s Research & Impact The RN is the first Indigenous research pro- Unit, he thinks about this every day he goes to gram of its kind in Canada. With data analysis Another key part of the RN’s mandate is to foster give insights about educational and economic work with Indspire’s Research Knowledge Nest skills rapidly becoming critical to economic the development of the next generation of Indige- outcomes for Indigenous students in Canada as (RN). A member of the Algonquins of Greater success, the RN is poised to seize this exciting nous researchers and analysts. The RN’s Research well as those students’ educational experiences: Golden Lake, Colt knows just how important it opportunity to foster Indigenous engagement Assistant program provides a supportive learning how do the students feel about the path of their is to foster the next generation of Indigenous and leadership in quantitative research and environment for up-and-coming Indigenous re- studies? How many graduate, and when? What researchers – from a very personal perspective. data science roles. Its work will provide deci- searchers to receive hands-on work experience in career fields do they enter after graduation? “Research to me is about finding that connection sion-makers with key insights into the educa- quantitative research and data analysis roles. to community…centering the experiences of tional attainment of First Nations, Inuit, and In addition to this report, which will also include a my community within my research practice has Métis peoples in Canada. The RN’s very first Research Assistant, Joshua webinar, the RN team will be releasing three more Thomas, has very positive thoughts about his research projects in 2019-2020 including: a joint role.