Post Secondary Education

The Post-Secondary Education Program (PSEP), currently administered by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), provides funding to First Nations through the Indian Student Support Program (ISSSP) and the Post Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP). ISSSP is provided to the Aboriginal post secondary institutions, the First Nations University of Canada and the teacher education programs in Saskatchewan. PSSSP, administers by the individual First Nations, provides financial assistance to eligible students. This may include a living allowance, tuition, textbooks and supplies.

Originally the Post Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) was administered by INAC. In the early 1990’s administration of the PSSSP was transferred to Tribal Councils and/or First Nations. Since that time there have been numerous successes. During the past decade alone there have been approximately 4000 Post-Secondary graduates in a great variety of fields. There are graduates in Education, Healthcare, Medicine, Social Sciences, Humanities, Agriculture, Law, Mathematics, Science and Engineering at the Undergraduate, Masters and Doctorate levels and graduates of numerous technical courses. In 2009-2010 approximately 2500 First Nations students attended Post-Secondary institutions. There were, however, many more eligible Post-Secondary students who are denied funding due to the shortfall of PSSSP monies. This funding shortfall and the negative impact it has on First Nations people, in eventual lack of employment and in squandered benefit to society, was the focus of the PSE RALLY held Sept, 22, 2010.

In order to address INAC’s funding shortfall in this region and to be proactive, as changes to PSSSP are being considered at the national level, the Post-Secondary Education Technical Working Group has looked at options that have been developed in other regions of Canada. They have drafted a funding option titled First Nation Control and a Central Fund for Post-Secondary Funding for review by regional stakeholders. At the October sitting of the FSIN Legislative Assembly resolution #1734 First Nation Control and a Central Fund for Post-Secondary Funding, was approved in principle. This resolution calls on INAC to remove the 2% cap on PSSSP funding that was instituted in 1996. It also tasks the Education and Training Secretariat to finalize the aforementioned funding option and create an implementation model for presentation at the June 2011 Legislative Assembly. Currently the PSE Technical Working Group is also developing Regional Guidelines for delivery of the PSSSP funding that better reflect the needs of the First Nations and the PSE students that they serve.

For more information please contact:
Corey O'Soup, B.Ed., B. A.
Senior Policy Research/Analyst
Education and Training Secretariat
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Suite 100 – 103A, Packham Avenue
Saskatoon, SK , S7N 4K4
Phone: (306) 956-6940
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it