Free Webinar Series (2026)

Empowering the Next Generation: Supporting Indigenous Learners

This free webinar explores distinctions-based, culturally safe career development for First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.

Wed, June 3, 2026
9:00 am PT (12:00 pm ET)

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Overview of the Webinar Series

Current data reveals a critical gap in how Canadian post-secondary institutions and employment offices serve Indigenous learners. Supported by CERIC, the recent ISET (Indigenous Skills and Employment Training) National Hub report, Empowering the Next Generation, highlights that while 100% of survey respondents view cultural competency as essential, many still face significant hurdles. These include geographic isolation and a lack of “wraparound” supports like housing and childcare.

This free webinar brings together a powerhouse panel of Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) representatives and the CEO of Polytechnics Canada to bridge this gap.

We will move beyond high-level statistics to discuss the practical application of “distinctions-based” support – tailoring services specifically to First Nations, Métis and Inuit identities.

By centring Indigenous voices, this session addresses the urgent need for a career development framework that is community-rooted, culturally safe and focused on long-term prosperity rather than just immediate placement.

Why Career Practitioners Should Attend:

For career development professionals, supporting Indigenous learners requires more than a standard toolkit – it requires a fundamental shift toward holistic, person-centred advocacy. This webinar provides direct access to leaders who are successfully navigating these systemic shifts.

Attendees will:

 

Gain Cultural Intelligence: Move from awareness to action by understanding why cultural competency is the #1 predictor of service satisfaction for Indigenous clients.

 

Acquire Practical Tools: Learn how to implement “wraparound” service models that address non-academic barriers such as mental health and family obligations.

 

Enhance Institutional Accountability: Discover how to use the report’s data to advocate for better funding and more inclusive policies within your organization.

 

Network with Experts: Engage in a live dialogue with ISET leaders and the CEO of Polytechnics Canada to solve real-world challenges in real time.

Webinar Learning Objectives

Learning objectives:

  • Analyze the unique barriers, such as digital equity and geographic location, that impact Indigenous learner retention and career transitions.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the “wraparound” support model in improving educational and employment outcomes for Indigenous individuals.
  • Distinguish between the cultural priorities and service needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners to provide more nuanced, effective counselling.
  • Implement strength-based approaches that leverage Indigenous learners’ existing community ties and cultural identities as assets in the workforce.

Meet the Presenters

Sarah Watts-Rynard: has served as Chief Executive Officer of Polytechnics Canada since July 2018. Polytechnics Canada is the voice of leading research-intensive, publicly funded polytechnics and institutes of technology and is active in federal advocacy related to skills and innovation policy. Sarah also chairs the CWB Foundation and serves as Vice-chair of the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology.

Darian Kovacs: Darian Kovacs is the Indigenous founder of Jelly Academy, a leading digital skills training provider. With over 15 years of experience in education and skill training, he is a passionate advocate for reducing barriers to entry in the modern workforce and brings a unique perspective on how digital literacy and Indigenous-led training models can intersect to drive national economic success.

Katherine Ciboci:



Allison Bear is a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) member of the Ochapowace Nation on Treaty 4 territory and lives in Saskatoon.

As a residential school survivor, Allison brings powerful lived experience and a profound understanding of the systemic, personal and intergenerational barriers that First Nations continue to navigate. This lived knowledge shapes her leadership with authenticity, empathy and a deep commitment to shifting systems from simply addressing barriers to actively creating spaces of belonging.

Supporting a regional co-ordination team as Vice-president of the Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group (SITAG), Allison brings a strong Nation-based, community-centred perspective to her transformational leadership. Grounded in relationship-building, accountability and a long-term vision for generational impact, she provides oversight to a dedicated team supporting 39 sub-agreement holders across Saskatchewan’s First Nation–distinction Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) network.

Chelsie Rodriguez: Chelsie Rodriguez is a Senior Program Co-ordinator at the Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon, where she supports Métis training and workforce development initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Aboriginal Public Administration and has spent the past 10 years with GDI Training & Employment in various management roles. Chelsie brings experience in program planning, co-ordination and delivery, with a strong focus on enhancing employment opportunities and skills development for Métis individuals.

About CERIC

CERIC is a charitable organization that is dedicated to the advancement of education, research and advocacy in career counselling and development. We fund projects and provide innovative resources and learning opportunities that build the knowledge and skills of diverse career and employment professionals.