First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education  |  Aboriginal Self-Identification

Aboriginal Student Self-Identification

The Aboriginal Student Self-Identification supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit student success and the goals of the ministry’s Business Plan.

Students in the province may choose to self-identify on school registration forms. The data collected helps to:

• support policy and funding decisions
• measure program effectiveness
• identify promising practices supporting First Nation, Métis and Inuit student success
• inform provincial reporting on First Nations, Métis and Inuit student achievement in provincial schools

More information about the Aboriginal Student Self-Identification:

• Student Self-Identification Information for Parents and Guardians
• Student Self-Identification Information for School Authorities

How is this information used? 

The information is used to improve accountability for Aboriginal education and to inform efforts to close the achievement gap between Aboriginal and all Alberta students. Knowing how Aboriginal students, as a whole, are doing in school helps Alberta Education and school authorities understand:

• what programs are working
• where additional programs, resources and supports are required
• what changes may be needed to improve the education system for the benefit of Aboriginal students

Alberta Education and school authorities use the information according to section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) to plan for program improvements, to make policy and funding decisions, and to measure and report Aboriginal student achievement. Student achievement measures include high school completion rates, dropout rates, transition rates from high school to post-secondary education, and results on provincial achievement tests and diploma exams.

Achievement results of self-identified Aboriginal students are reported in a respectful way that protects the anonymity of individual students. Provincial Aboriginal achievement results are included in Alberta Education’s Annual Report.

Funding

Alberta Education also provides additional funding to school authorities based on the number of self-identified Aboriginal students registered. The funding allocation rate is $1,178 for each self-identified First Nation, Métis or Inuit students; this amounts to approximately $47 million annually to school authorities.

School authorities are allocated additional funding based on the number of self-identified Aboriginal students registered annually. School authorities decide how to best use these funds based on the programming needs within their authority. Some school authorities retain the funds to support district-wide initiatives and others distribute funds, or a portion of the funds, directly to schools to support local programs.

 Aboriginal education funding is being used to support a range of projects such as:

• hiring Aboriginal Liaisons or Cultural Advisors
• school-based resource centers offering Aboriginal student supports
• tutoring and mentoring
• professional development for school and district staff (First Nations, Métis and Inuit resources, protocols, family engagement, etc.)
• purchasing or developing First Nations, Métis and Inuit resources
• high school completion coaches
• engaging Elders in the school collaborating with community partners
• language and Aboriginal cultural supports for school staff

Please contact your school principal for further information.

To ensure accountability school authorities share overall Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal student results with the Ministry and the public in their Annual Education Results Reports. These reports are available by contacting your school authority and are posted on school authority websites. You may also wish to review the Aboriginal results in Alberta Education’s Annual Report.

Teacher Workforce Information

Alberta’s Teacher Workforce Information System (TWINS) enables new teacher applicants and certificated teachers to self-identify as First Nation, Métis or Inuit by answering a voluntary question.