Mamawi - Colleges and Institutes Canada

Mamawi is a five-year Indigenous-led partnership bringing together three leading Indigenous institutes – Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, and Six Nations Polytechnic – to strengthen culturally relevant entrepreneurship, business, and accounting (EBA) education and supports across Canada.

Supported by the BHP Foundation, Mamawi aims to expand economic opportunities for Indigenous learners, businesses, and communities by strengthening institutional capacity, supporting learner success, and advancing Indigenous-led approaches to education and research.

The initiative responds to persistent disparities in education and employment that continue to limit economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. It also recognizes that advancing reconciliation and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) require meaningful Indigenous leadership, partnerships, and shared decision-making across the postsecondary sector.

Over five years, the three Indigenous institutes will lead the initiative in partnership with Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), engaging the broader college and institute network through national initiatives. Together, they will advance projects and activities that strengthen institutional capacity, expand learner pathways and supports, and promote Indigenous-led research and knowledge sharing.

By placing Indigenous leadership and perspectives at its center, Mamawi aims to strengthen Indigenous education and economic opportunities while helping shape a more responsive and inclusive postsecondary system.

Initiative Objective

Improve economic and social outcomes for Indigenous learners by strengthening the capacity of Indigenous institutes and non-Indigenous colleges to deliver culturally relevant entrepreneurship, business, and accounting (EBA) programs and supports.

Initiative Activities

Mamawi’s work is organized around three key areas:

Indigenous-led governance: Establishing a governance model that centers Indigenous leadership, perspectives, and decision-making.
Partner-led implementation: Supporting projects and activities led by the three Indigenous institutes to strengthen EBA education, institutional capacity, and learner supports.
National initiatives: Engaging CICan’s broader membership to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and advance Indigenous-led approaches across the postsecondary sector.