b'Message from the President & CEODear Friends, One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves, in any venture, is what does progress look like? There are many ways to measure progress in Indigenous education. Metrics like improving graduation rates and expanding access to supports canHEAD OFFICEbe valuable tools in determining if verifiable progress is being madeBox 5, Suite 100 in communities.But metrics dont tell the whole story about the50 Generations Drive journey that Indigenous learners experience. Six Nations of the Grand River Ohsweken, Ontario N0A 1M0 One measurement that holds equal value is what IndigenousFax: 866.433.3159learners who are planning to enter or are already navigating theTORONTO OFFICE 555 Richmond Street West, Suite 1002 education system have to say about their experiences throughToronto, Ontario M5V 3B1 their stories. How these experiences are framed through anFax: 416.926.7554 Indigenous lens helps inform Indspire as an organization, andindspire.cahelps us better serve a diverse group of Indigenous learnersPublished by:from coast to coast to coast. Every year, Indspire reaches out to Indigenous learners who have been awarded bursaries through our Building Brighter Futures:mediaedgepublishing.comBursaries, Scholarships, and Awards (BBF) program to ask them33 South Station Street follow-up questions about their experiences. We use this informa- Toronto, OntarioM9N 2B2 Toll Free: 1-866-480-4717 tion to routinely update and tailor our programming so that werobertt@mediaedge.caare always meeting the needs of Indigenous learners and canPUBLISHER help to provide the supports they need to be successful inMaurice Labordethe program of their choiceand, ultimately, to enter the careerEDITOR path of their choice.Roma IhnatowyczSALES EXECUTIVES Indspires Research Knowledge Nest recently published an illumi- Kristine Dudar, Brenda Ezinicki,nating report entitled So We Can All Thrive: The Importance ofDavid Tetlock, Bill BiberIndigenous Organizations Support for Indigenous Post-SecondaryJUNIOR DESIGN SPECIALIST Students that asked Indigenous learners: Why is it important toBethany Giesbrechtreceive funding from an Indigenous organization like Indspire? TheDESIGN SPECIALIST responses in this report help place the question of progress inMarisa GiesbrechtIndigenous education in a more personal light. PRESIDENT Kevin BrownOne student wrote to Indspire, It is important and meaningfulSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT to receive funding from an Indigenous organization like IndspireRobert Thompsonbecause it feels as though we have people in our corner who we areDIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT connected to and who understand us in a way that others may not.Michael BellBRANCH MANAGER Another student expressed that I feel like there is a better under- Nancie Privstanding of how difficult it really is to be an Indigenous person inPublished November 2021post-secondary. I feel like Indspire truly acknowledges the difficulty,Publication Mailmentally and spiritually, that education can have on each andAgreement #40787580every student.All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any Hearing these stories acknowledge the work we do makes us anmeans, in whole or in part, without the organization that is determined to help as many Indigenous learnersprior written consent of the association.as we can.Printed on 10% post-consumerFSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap.8indspiration2021'