Closed: Research and Learning Program
This program supported research projects that show the positive impacts of educational initiatives for First Nations students.
Closed
As part of the Government of Canada's Comprehensive Expenditure Review, and as a continuation of ISC's ongoing reorganization to better serve Indigenous Peoples, the department has made efforts to better align resources with priorities. As a result, funding will no longer be provided under the Research and Learning program or the Innovation in Education Program as of April 1, 2026.
On this page
About the program
The Research and Learning Program supported research projects that contribute to educational initiatives that are positively impacting First Nations students and their educational outcomes. In addition, recipients shared learning and presented the findings of their research at a First Nations education event of their choosing.
The objective of the program was to increase awareness and knowledge of best practices in Indigenous education among:
- educators
- policy-makers
- First Nations leaders across Canada
It supported 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 were intended to help eligible beneficiaries in the development of their cost work plans.
The Research and Learning Program was one of several contribution programs, along with Innovation in Education and the Education Partnerships Program, that complement Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) funding efforts towards First Nations elementary and secondary education.
About the activities
The program supported 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 have been between:
- researchers
- educators
- Elders or Knowledge Keepers
- students and other community members
- sharing of education-related learning 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 was part of broader efforts to improve First Nations elementary and secondary education. Activities were expected to support improving the overall quality of education in First Nations and to contribute to specific outcomes.