Alberta is injecting $4.9 million into on-reserve First Nations schools through a new Specialized Learning and Mental Health Supports Grant.
The money targets the higher costs of delivering services in rural and remote areas.
Schools can use it to bring on specialized staff and expand mental health programming so students no longer have to leave their communities for support.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the funding is designed to boost both academic confidence and overall well-being. Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney added that delivering these services close to home helps young people remain rooted in their cultures.
The grant comes on top of $101 million already allocated in Budget 2026 under the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Grant. Educators on the ground report early results.
Dr. Daphne Mai’Stoina of KTCEA and Wayne Jackson of Whitefish Lake say the combined investments are strengthening cultural identity, a sense of belonging, and essential wellness resources right where students live and learn.
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