2026 Winners of the Wiseman Mathematics Contest Announced

The Wiseman Mathematics Contest has announced its 2026 winners. Launched in 2008 by Dr. Arzu Sardarli of the First Nations University of Canada, the contest was supported by PromoScience, a program within NSERC. Since then, thousands of First Nations students from grades 4 to 6 across Canada have participated. The goal is to inspire young students in First Nations schools to engage in mathematics through a competitive setting.

The Wiseman Mathematics Contest addresses the needs of mathematics teachers in First Nations Schools who aim to evaluate their students’ problem-solving skills through a competitive setting. In addition to the contest itself, the First Nations University of Canada creates and provides preparatory materials. Teachers utilize these resources to ready their students for the contest and to introduce them to alternative problem-solving approaches, thereby broadening the curriculum. Some educators also incorporate these materials into extracurricular activities.

Students voluntarily participate in the project. The Contest offers a chance to engage with non-traditional problems in a non-mandatory, competitive setting, which is rare in Western schools.

In 2016, the Regional Centre of Expertise (Saskatchewan) on Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Program acknowledged the Wiseman Mathematics Contest as an innovative initiative. It highlighted that the project has enhanced sustainable development capacity in Saskatchewan and supported progress on the UNESCO Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development.

The 1st-place winners of the 2026 Contest also receive gift cards.

The schools listed below are awarded Elder Ken Goodwill Memorial Certificates for their best performance:

• Grade 4: Chief Taylor School, Onion Lake Cree Nation
• Grade 5: Sakatcheway Anishinabe School, Grassy Narrows First Nation
• Grade 6: Kihew-osapiwin (Eagleview) Middle School, Onion Lake Cree Nation

Congratulations to all the contestants, and thank you to their teachers!

Schools or teachers interested in more information about the Wiseman Mathematics Contest may contact Dr. Arzu Sardarli at asardarli@firstnationsuniversity.ca.

View full list of 2026 Winners here.