Indigenous Friends

10/09/2026

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN COHORT 10!⁠
✨️ Ready to learn new skills and explore new career paths in community, with mentorship and support? Learn more about our FNMI mentorship and tech training program by registering for an info session via our link in bio. ⁠
📢 The last info session will be held on October 14, and the program application deadline is October 15. Cohort 10 program begins November 9.

09/30/2026

Today marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to reflect on the painful truths surrounding the legacy of residential schools, remember the lives lost, and recognize the countless stories that deserve to be heard.

Today, we will be wearing orange in support of Every Child Matters. 🧡

We honour Survivors, their families, and communities, while recognizing that the impacts of residential schools and colonization continue today.

As we close out September, thank you for learning alongside us and for being part of our community. We encourage everyone to continue listening, learning, and reflecting beyond today.

09/28/2026

Take a look at what Cohort 8 has created this year in IndigiTECH! 🩷

Participants are learning the foundations of web development and putting those skills into practice through projects like volunteer forms, monetary calculations, web greetings, and complete websites.

While they’re learning the same core skills, no two projects look quite the same. Participants bring their own creativity, interests, and inspiration into what they build. One participant even created a volunteer form for their community food bank, using their new skills to give back to an organization in their community.

And what you see here is only a glimpse! 👀 Behind each finished result is the code participants are learning to write, understand, and bring to life.

By their final capstone, participants bring those skills together to create a website of their own, with Cohort 8 exploring everything from Indigenous poetry and community knowledge to film, art, and more.

We’re proud of what Cohort 8 has created!🩷

Donations help fund the instructors, technology, software, mentorship, and learning resources behind this training while keeping IndigiTECH available at no cost to participants.

Help us keep the learning going: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/donate?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=2026-september&utm_id=support-september&utm_content=post7

09/25/2026

Our next IndigiTECH Cohort is just a little over a month away!

Join us for an info session to learn more about the program and hear about the next steps to join Cohort 10.

Choose the session that works best for you and register today through the link in our bio or below!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/indigitech-cohort-10-information-session-program-start-november-09-2026-tickets-1997155165863?aff=oddtdtcreator

We can’t wait to connect with you!

09/21/2026

What does the IndigiTECH pathway look like from start to finish? 💻

It starts with learning! Over 28 weeks, participants build practical skills through hands-on lessons and assignments, then put those skills to work on projects inspired by real-world challenges.

Along the way, mentorship connects participants with alumni and industry professionals who can offer guidance, share their experiences, and help them explore different career and education pathways.

As the program wraps up, participants bring everything together in a final capstone project, showcasing their ideas, creativity, and new skills.

For successful participants, the pathway may continue into a 12-week paid internship with an IFA partner, offering hands-on workplace experience and opportunities to make professional connections.

Learn → Create → Connect → Capstone → Internship

This program is offered at no cost to participants ❤️

Curious where the pathway could take you? Explore IndigiTECH by signing up for one of our info sessions: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/indigitech-cohort-10-information-session-program-start-november-09-2026-tickets-1997155165863

Want to help support our students and programs? Donate today: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/donate?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=2026-september&utm_id=support-september&utm_content=post6

Empowering FNMI Youth & Adults in Tech — Free Internship Opportunities and Upskilling — Join the IndigiTECH Mentorship Program Today!

09/18/2026

A huge shout-out to Wabusk Data Solutions, one of our IndigiTECH internship partners! 🩷

Since February of this year, Wabusk has welcomed three participants for 12-week paid internships, tailoring each experience to their interests and the projects their team is working on.

From creating graphics for an AI guidebook to supporting community engagement sessions, participants have had the chance to put their skills into practice, contribute to meaningful projects, and make professional connections.

Wabusk’s support goes beyond internships, too. Their team has joined two of our IndigiTECH cohorts as guest speakers, sharing their business journey and experiences with participants.

We’re grateful for the time, knowledge, and opportunities they’ve shared with our community! Thank you, Wabusk, for being part of our community!

Support our programs here: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/donate?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=2026-september&utm_id=support-september&utm_content=post-5

Check out the full story on our special newsletter that also dropped today here: https://mailchi.mp/indigenousfriends/national-indigenous-history-month-10157961

09/15/2026

There’s a lot to learn beyond the curriculum here at IFA!

Throughout our programs, participants have opportunities to hear from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Elders, speakers, tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and other guests who bring their own knowledge, experiences, and perspectives into the conversation.

And no two conversations look quite the same! Different guests bring different experiences, teachings, and perspectives, with topics that can explore everything from technology and careers to culture, creativity, and personal journeys.

Participants have explored topics including:

💻 Cybersecurity and digital design
💰 Financial literacy
🧡 Bringing cultural values into the workplace
📊 Data sovereignty
🎨 Indigenous storytelling
💡 Entrepreneurship and the journey of a craft artisan
🌱 Life and career journeys

These conversations are also a chance to connect. They create a supportive environment where participants can ask questions, share their own perspectives, learn from others, and connect with Indigenous knowledge and experiences. Hearing about the different paths others have taken can also introduce new ideas, spark inspiration, and help participants see possibilities for their own careers, education, creative work, and what might come next.

A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to join us and share their knowledge, stories, and experiences with our participants. Each person brings something different, and we’re grateful for everything you share with us. ❤️

Your support helps us continue bringing opportunities like these into our programs at no cost to participants: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/donate?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=2026-september&utm_id=support-september&utm_content=post-4

09/14/2026

We’re proud to partner with Maverick Gardner Pathways North Inc. to help create meaningful pathways from digital skills to career opportunities. Thank you for being a valued partner in supporting Indigenous learners and building opportunities together!

Real partnerships build real pathways. 🤝

At Pathways North, we're proud to work alongside Indigenous Friends Association (IFA) to turn digital skills into real, paid careers. IFA delivers hands-on digital literacy and foundational tech training that builds confidence and connection.

IFA's next cohort starts November 9th. Learn more at indigenousfriends.org.

09/09/2026

We’re proud to share a few highlights from our programs over the past year, and we also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been part of it!

Looking back at our most recent Annual Report, covering April 2025 to March 2026, here are just a few of the numbers that stood out:

🎓 236 graduates across our programs, with 164 from IndigiTAL and 72 from IndigiTECH!

💬 50 alumni support meetings to stay connected with participants beyond the program.

📈 24% more participants joined IndigiTECH Cohort 7, allowing us to welcome even more learners into the program.

💻 82.8% of participants were already reporting improved technical skills by week 3.

❤️ 37 mentors shared their time and knowledge through workshops, mentorship circles, and one-on-one support.

There are a lot of people behind these numbers. From the participants who showed up ready to learn, to the mentors who shared their time and knowledge, our staff, partners, donors, and everyone who supported IFA throughout the year, thank you for being part of it.

We’re excited to see what another year of learning brings!

If you’d like to help us continue offering our programs for free to Indigenous participants across Canada, you can support our programs here: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/corporate-giving?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=2026-september&utm_id=support-today&utm_content=post-3

09/04/2026

What does learning with IFA actually look like?

Our programs offer more than digital skills. Participants have access to the tools, people, and supports that help them take part and get the most from their experience.

Through our programs, participants can access:
💻 Digital skills, coding & technology education
🎨 Digital art & creative learning
💬 Indigenous mentors & guest speakers
👥 Opportunities to learn and connect with others
🤝 Hands-on projects & real-world skills
💼 Paid internship opportunities through IndigiTECH

And support along the way, including:
❤️ Childcare support
🥗 Nutrition support
💻 Technology needed to participate
👥 Staff support throughout the program

All of this is offered at no cost to participants.

Want to learn with us? Explore our IndigiTECH program and sign up for an info session: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/indigitech-cohort-10-information-session-program-start-november-09-2026-tickets-1997155165863?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawUHtGZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTU3SlBrTEUzWlVRM0xHclpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSVSGmfG-ZZlP1zEaX7iJv_Br6vXloj2_KsPqhSEh9gCfW7sPEImwpjU1Rd8_aem_TBfaXoJG7CzG2zUrNlQ8QQ

Want to help us keep it that way? Your support helps us continue providing the education, tools, and participant supports that make these opportunities accessible: https://www.indigenousfriends.org/donate?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=2026&utm_id=september&utm_term=2