About
Disclaimer: The language and word choice on this page is chosen to reflect the use in source material. We at ITMP recognize that the terms Aboriginal, First Nations, and Indigenous are not interchangeable and refer to various defined groups of people. As we are referencing previously conducted studies and to ensure accurate interpretation of the data, any cited terms mirror those used in the source material.
The Indigenous Tutoring & Mentoring Program was created in January 2021 in order to address the discrepancy in resources available to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. The aim of this program is to provide free educational tutoring and resources to Indigenous students to help increase graduation rates and pursuit of post secondary education. As highlighted in number 7 of the 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there are currently gaps in educational and employment rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians(1). Number 8 also highlights that there are discrepancies in federal education funding for First Nation students being taught on-reserve and those living off-reserve(1). By providing free tutoring to Indigenous students both on and off reserve, as well as mentoring tailored to the needs of the student, we hope to close this gap in education and aid in increasing Indigenous representation across the various workforces and specialties. This also specifically addresses number 10ii of the Calls to Action which calls for improvement of education attainment levels and success rates(1).
Additionally, we have recently expanded from solely providing tutoring and mentoring to also providing advocacy and awareness for issues Indigenous students face today. It is our hope that we can collaborate with our Indigenous tutors, mentors, and students to create workshops allowing greater connection with students’ language and culture, support projects and petitions in Indigenous communities, and lobby for greater attention to these issues at a government level.
To learn more about the three aspects of our program, please hover your mouse over the relevant box below:
Our tutoring program connects students with tutors proficient in the topic required by the student. Students are met with on a weekly basis for 30min -1 hour depending on the age and needs of the student. These meetings occur over Zoom due to current COVID-19 regulations, however it is our hope to eventually organize in-person tutoring, especially for those who may not have reliable internet access. When pairing students and tutors, we aim to consider any learning difficulties the student may have to provide the best support we can. Tutors are required to complete criminal record checks before beginning.
No photo credits available
Tutoring
Before tutoring begins, parents/guardians of students are required to fill out a permission form acknowledging that they are aware their child will be receiving academic assistance from our program. For more information or to get involved, either as a student or a tutor, please contact Jessica Seemann at indigenoustutoring@gmail.com.
Our mentoring program is structured similarly to our tutoring program, but targets goal formation and soft skill development instead of academic understanding. Many tutors already incorporate these elements into their tutoring sessions as well. The goal of mentoring is to allow students to become self-sufficient and develop the skills and resources to continue learning without tutoring. This can include time management, motivation strategies, and problem-solving skills. We also assist with career planning by talking with first generation university students, researching scholarship resources, etc.
Photo credits: Maksim Shutov
Mentoring
For more information or to get involved, please contact Jessica Seemann at indigenoustutoring@gmail.com
Advocacy
For more information or to get involved, please contact Shay Denis at
Our advocacy program is to be a resource for Indigenous students, providing support and access to their culture. Through our website, we are currently providing students with numerous resources including sites to help learn about culture or languages, and available scholarships to future post-secondary students. We have also created safe spaces for students and tutors to be able to share their experiences of being Indigenous; either through our blog or one-on-one with mentors. Our future goals include keeping Indigenous traditions, languages, and art alive by creating and overseeing workshops. We always appreciate ideas and suggestions on how we can better support Indigenous students.
Photo credits: Tim Marshall
Photo credits: Tim Marshall
References
(1) Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action,” Exhibits, accessed January 11, 2022, https://exhibits.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/2420.