2026 National Indigenous Education Symposium

The National Indigenous Education Symposium (NIES) 2026 is planned for October 18-20, 2026, in Richmond, British Columbia. It will convene colleges, institutes, Indigenous Institutes, communities, governments, industry partners, and learners to assess progress and shape future directions in Indigenous education.

Call for proposals is open to CICAN and IIC MEMBERS only.

Timeline 
Submissions Close: Friday, September 11, 2026, 9:30pm (ET)
Acceptance Notification: by Monday, September 21, 2026

Theme
The theme Transformation for the Next Generation: Advancing Indigenous Education, Workforce Development, and Economic Prosperity reflects a growing imperative to move beyond commitments toward measurable, sustained change—including improved education-to-employment pathways, stronger Indigenous economies, and community-led development outcomes.

Across the sector, progress in reconciliation and Indigenous learner success remains uneven, influenced by systemic barriers, regional disparities, and increasing expectations for accountability and impact.

NIES 2026 presents a timely opportunity to shift the conversation from intention to transformation by:

• Assessing progress in reconciliation and Indigenization, with a focus on transformational outcomes in employment and economic participation;

• Highlighting Indigenous-led practices and partnerships that support skills development, workforce inclusion, and economic prosperity;

• Identifying barriers, gaps, and priority areas in education-to-employment pathways;

• Fostering dialogue that supports accountability, collaboration, and long-term, community-driven economic growth. 

Selection Process
Each proposal will be assessed by reviewers using the criteria below. CICan and IIC will use the ratings and comments to create the overall program with the objective of ensuring that the Symposium program includes a well-balanced mix of high-quality sessions that will meet the diverse interests of attendees.  

Please note that there are only a limited number of sessions available. 

Selection Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Will involve more than one CICan or IIC member institutions and/or partner organizations.

• Will provide attendees with broadly applicable lessons, tools and ideas which participants can bring back to their institution, organization, or community. 

• Will inspire attendees with new, high-impact and solutions-oriented initiatives or research.

• Will center diverse voices and lived experiences that reflect the realities and aspirations of communities connected to the stream.

• Will strengthen relationships and networks among participants working in similar or intersecting domains. 

• Is relevant to the overall event theme of Transformation for the Next Generation: Advancing Indigenous Education, Workforce Development, and Economic Prosperity and fits within one of the four specific streams. 

Recommendations for Preparing a Successful Proposal

• Know your audience. Ensure your proposal is likely to be relevant and useful to attendees and includes the takeaways. 

• Focus your proposal on something specific and unique with implications for the future of the PSE system (e.g., a successful initiative or research project). 

• Find partners from other institutions. Proposals that offer insights from multiple institutions engaged in similar work will be given priority.