Research and Learning Program
This program supports research projects that show the positive impacts of educational initiatives for First Nations students.
On this page
About the program
The Research and Learning Program supports research projects that contribute to educational initiatives that are positively impacting First Nations students and their educational outcomes. In addition, recipients share learnings and present the findings of their research at a First Nations education event of their choosing.
The objective of the program is to increase awareness and knowledge of best practices in Indigenous education among:
- educators
- policy-makers
- First Nations leaders across Canada
It supports a regionally-driven, First Nations-defined process enabling First Nations control over project selection and funding allocations.
Guidelines for this program were initially developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the National Indian Education Council and are intended to help eligible beneficiaries in the development of their costed work plans.
The Research and Learning Program is one of several contribution programs, along with Innovation in Education and the Education Partnerships Program, which complement Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) funding efforts towards First Nations elementary and secondary education.
About the activities
The program supports activities such as:
- collaboration that expands the evidence-based practices in Indigenous education to benefit First Nations students and improve their education outcomes. This collaboration may be between:
- researchers
- educators
- Elders or Knowledge Keepers
- students and other community members
- sharing of education-related learnings among First Nations education partners
- evaluating innovative approaches to education programming, for example the projects that received funding from the Innovation in Education program
- research activities that increase understanding of education and embrace Indigenous research methodologies that may benefit First Nations students, including:
- community-based
- action-based
- relational
- process-oriented
- adaptive
- narrative-based
The program is a small part of broader efforts to improve First Nations elementary and secondary education. Activities are expected to support improving the overall quality of education in First Nations and to contribute to specific outcomes.
Who can apply
Eligible funding recipients:
- First Nations or bands
- tribal councils, political or treaty or settlement organizations
- other First Nations education organizations designated by First Nations, including:
- school boards
- First Nations education authorities
- First Nations regional representative organizations
- recipients in Yukon and Northwest Territories
Depending on the nature of the regional agreement, funding may be allocated to a First Nations organization to administer the program regionally or to specific projects, based on availability of funds and First Nations decisions.
Deadline
The deadline to submit a proposal is 11:59 pm Eastern time April 30, 2024. Deadlines and processes may differ based on the region, please contact your regional office for further information.
How to apply
Applicants are encouraged to submit their detailed proposals electronically. Follow the instructions in the 2024 to 2025 Research and Learning Program guidelines.
Applicants are encouraged to review these guidelines before submitting an application, particularly the eligible expenditures section.
Applicants who have access to the ISC's services portal should use the electronic form by opening a session on the portal. If you do not have access to the portal, please contact your regional office to get access to the portal.
In your proposal, remember to:
- provide the title of your proposal
- indicate under the proposal title section which educational themes your proposal is addressing
- list the activities, costs and outcomes you expect to complete during the project
- indicate as much detail as possible
- show how the activity will fulfill at least 1 of the program's objectives
- select research, measurement and evaluation from the drop-down list in the proposal identification section, located under indicate the phase for this proposal
- save frequently
Please ensure that the form is fully complete and all mandatory fields are filled in. Attach all documents included with the proposal to the supporting documents section of the proposal form. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format.
Since the funding will be provided on a fiscal year basis, separate project timelines and expenditure projections must be submitted in your proposal. For example, the activities planned and expected results section in the form must include cost information up to March 31, 2025. If your project extends beyond March 31, 2025, you must:
- provide a separate work plan detailing the objectives and costs per fiscal year for all activities planned beyond March 31, 2025
- attach a work plan to the proposal form under the supporting documents section in an Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format
All research projects must be completed in their entirety. This would include first the undertaking of research in learning activities and then the presentation of related findings at some form of regional or national First Nations education conference, workshop or symposium.
Submission of a proposal does not guarantee its acceptance. Funding decisions are communicated on a regional basis according to regional office or First Nations schedules. Funding amounts are based on the number of successful proposals and availability of regional funds.
First Nations organizations in British Columbia should contact the First Nations Education Steering Committee for further information about this program.
Guidelines for previous years
Proposal assessment criteria
Regionally-based First Nations organizations are engaged in and in many cases lead the selection of research and learning proposals, based on an approved regionally-based process. Contact your regional office for more information.