Systemic challenges, such as limited access to resources and barriers to transportation and childcare, make navigating educational systems challenging for many Indigenous families. It can be next to impossible for families dealing with intergenerational trauma.
Despite Canada’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, many newcomers to the country, as well as ethnocultural communities, continue to have limited exposure to the histories, cultures, and lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples. This gap is especially visible in urban centres where Indigenous Peoples and newcomers often live side-by-side yet remain socially and culturally disconnected. Without meaningful opportunities for learning and relationship-building, reconciliation efforts remain abstract.
No student should be denied educational opportunities due to financial or systemic barriers. Yet Indigenous children, like the Oskāyak students in Saskatchewan, are intimately familiar with missing out on opportunities that require travel. Reduced access to affordable airfare, accommodation, and basic travel necessities have left Indigenous students excluded from transformational learning experiences.
