Education and Early Childhood Learning

Indigenous Excellence is a branch within Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning dedicated to advancing Indigenous student success and wellness. We provide leadership, policy development, and strategic initiatives that address systemic barriers and inequities impacting Indigenous learners. Our work is guided by collaboration with First Nations, Red River Métis, and Inuit communities, families, educators, and partners across Manitoba.

Key areas of focus include:

• Indigenous Education and Language Initiatives: Supporting language revitalisation and culturally responsive education.
• Policy and Program Development: Creating strategies that promote equity and inclusion in schools and early learning settings.
• Community Partnerships: Working alongside families, schools, and Indigenous leadership to strengthen Indigenous student engagement and achievement.
• Professional Learning: Offering guidance and resources to educators and administrators to embed Indigenous perspectives and anti-racism practices.

No, Indigenous Excellence does not provide direct funding for post-secondary education.

• Treaty Status Students: Contact your First Nation for funding support.
• Non-Treaty Students: Explore options through Manitoba Student Aid for loans and bursaries.

Additional resources can be found through the Government of Canada - Indigenous peoples site.

Indigenous Excellence does not offer courses. Instead, we support educators, administrators, and community organisations by providing resources, guidance, and collaborative initiatives. For post-secondary courses, please refer to Manitoba’s universities and colleges.

Recent changes to The Public Schools Act (PSA) have broadened the definition of “resident pupil” to ensure that students can enrol in their local school, regardless of their care arrangements. The changes allow students living with a responsible adult to enrol in their local school. The intent of this change is to get more students enrolled in school and attached to the school system. It also recognizes Indigenous kinship care arrangements. These changes are intended to reduce barriers for students to attend school.

The definition of resident pupil in The Public Schools Act refers to a student who:

• lives with a parent or legal guardian who is residing in the school division/district and:
  • is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada); or
  • is a member of a visiting force under the Visiting Forces Act (Canada); or
  • holds a work or study permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
• is residing with a responsible adult who is not their parent or legal guardian, but whose parent or legal guardian is a citizen or permanent resident and resides in Canada.
• is or whose parent/legal guardian is claiming refugee protection or is protected under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
• has reached the age of 18 and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
• becomes a resident, by being dealt with under The Child and Family Services Act or The Youth Criminal Justice Act
• becomes a resident by being dealt with under Indigenous Law as per The Child and Family Services Act
• is deemed a resident by the Minister

Registration Examples:

A student’s family moves to another province but the student stays in Manitoba with a family friend to complete their schooling. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and completes a registration addendum to recognize the family friend as a responsible adult, the student living with them would be a resident pupil and can enrol in their catchment school.

A student moves to Manitoba from another province to live with a relative. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and completes a registration addendum to recognize the relative as a responsible adult, the student living with them would be a resident pupil and can enrol in their catchment school.

A single parent in northern Manitoba requires medical treatment in Winnipeg and a family member from another country moves to Winnipeg for three months to care for the parent’s child and be near the parent. A responsible adult must live in Manitoba and show proof of residence (e.g., a lease agreement, a utility bill) but is not required to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The parent must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. If the relative can show proof of residency, and the parent is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and completes a registration addendum to recognize the relative as a responsible adult, the student would be a resident pupil and can enrol in their catchment school.

A student who had been attending a school on reserve moves in with a responsible adult off reserve. Any student moving from a reserve to a community off reserve to live with a responsible adult can enrol in the adult’s provincial catchment school.

A student is living with a responsible adult so the student can access childcare. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada and completes a registration addendum to recognize the relative as a responsible adult, the student living with them would be a resident pupil and can enrol in their catchment school. The school or school division/district can ask for more information about the responsible adult arrangement to ensure the student is living with the responsible adult full time.

One parent/legal guardian moves to Manitoba with their child so they can access a sports program, but the other parent/legal guardian remains in another province. If a parent/legal guardian is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and is living in Manitoba, the student is a resident pupil and can enrol in their catchment school.

A student moves in with a responsible adult who lives in another catchment during the school year, but the parents and responsible adult want the student to continue attending the same school. Much like when any student moves out of their catchment during the school year, they can remain at their school until the end of the school.

A student moved in with a responsible adult who lives in another catchment during the school year and continues to attend their school, and in the next school year wants to continue at that school. Much like when any student moves out of their catchment, if they want to continue attending the same school in the next school year, they must apply to attend through School of Choice. They are eligible to attend the catchment school of the responsible adult.

We prioritize partnerships with Indigenous governing bodies, families, and community organizations. Our initiatives, such as language revitalisation, cultural programming, and curriculum development are developed in consultation with our sector, Indigenous community and leadership. This ensures education reflects Manitoba’s diversity and honours Indigenous knowledge systems.

Visit our Indigenous Excellence webpage for policy frameworks, reports, and resources, including Mamàhtawisiwin: The Wonder We Are Born With, Manitoba’s Indigenous Education Policy Framework.

Please email our general email inbox at ie@gov.mb.ca, from there our team will forward your question to the staff member best positioned to help!