NIUSLA Releases Final Report from Summit 2025: Honouring Indigenous Knowledges at Canadian Universities

Regina, SK – The National Indigenous University Senior Leaders’ Association (NIUSLA) is proud to announce the release of its Summary Report from the NIUSLA Summit 2025, Honouring Indigenous Knowledges at Canadian Universities. This landmark event brought together senior leaders from across Canada with a goal to advance the impact of Indigenous knowledge within Canadian Universities with emphasis on Indigenous governance, reconciliation, and systemic change in post-secondary education.

The report identifies priority areas required for success in implementing and advancing Indigenous mandates at universities, such as:

• Land as Foundation – Recognizing land as the first teacher and grounding legitimacy in land connection;
• Structural Change is Essential – Driving Indigenous-led, community-informed transformation;
• Authentic Inclusion and Leadership – Moving beyond symbolic gestures to embed Indigenous worldview into decision-making;
• Budgets Reflect Values – Meaningful implementation of Indigenous mandates require adequate financial, human, and operational resources.
• Assessment and Accountability – The imperative of culturally relevant and responsive frameworks.

“These priorities reflect the collective wisdom shared at the Summit and reaffirm NIUSLA’s commitment to fostering collaboration and influencing systemic change,” said NIUSLA Co-Chair, Dr. Christy R. Bressette. Echoing this sentiment, First Nations University President and NIUSLA member, Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann agreed saying, “We are grateful for the support of our members, partners, and the Mastercard Foundation in realizing this vision.”NUISLA’s guidance through this report can be leveraged as a catalyst to support improved outcomes within higher education premised on the enduring wisdom of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing and being.

The full report is available on the NIUSLA website https://www.niusla.ca/resources/

Media Contact:

Maria Morrison

NIUSLA Project Manager

mmorrison@firstnationsuniversity.ca

About NIUSLA

The National Indigenous University Senior Leaders’ Association (NIUSLA) unites Indigenous senior leaders from universities across Canada to advance Indigenous governance, leadership, and reconciliation in post-secondary education. NIUSLA fosters collaboration, advocates for systemic change, and supports Indigenous student success and faculty development. The association works with universities, governments, and Indigenous communities to strengthen Indigenous inclusion in academia. For more information, visit: www.fnuniv.ca/about-us/niusla.

About First Nations University of Canada

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) was founded in 1976 and is a unique national First Nations owned and operated post-secondary institution that aspires to have transformative impact by bridging ceremonies, knowledge keepers, languages, and traditions with the delivery of high-quality post-secondary education that will lead to the pride and success of all Indigenous and communities. FNUniv has campuses in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert, and provides programming nationally. For more information about FNUniv, please visit fnuniv.ca