University of Toronto implements tuition-free initiative for 9 First Nations

The University of Toronto has launched a tuition-free initiative for nine First Nations whose territories include or are adjacent to its campuses in downtown Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough. 

The initiative is part of the university's efforts to make education more accessible for Indigenous students as outlined in Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, a 2017 report of the Steering Committee for the University of Toronto Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

"I think this is a great first step," said Tristen White, a student in Indigenous studies and computer science and a member of the Mississaugas of the Credit, one of the eligible First Nations.

"I really think that there's a lot of progress that's being made when schools — particularly, like, big, mainstream schools like U of T — are making progress towards reconciliation …. It sets a precedent for other schools to do the same thing."

White said there is a waitlist for funding for post-secondary education in his community, adding the money that would have gone "to my tuition now gets to go to someone else who is being afforded the opportunity to go to school."

The university's tuition-free initiative applies to current and future Indigenous students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

The nine communities included are:

• Alderville First Nation.
• Curve Lake First Nation.
• Hiawatha First Nation.
• Nation Huronne-Wendat/Huron-Wendat First Nation.
• Mississauga First Nation.
• Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
• Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
• Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga Mohawk).
• Six Nations of the Grand River.

Shannon Simpson, senior director in the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at the university, said the first person they asked about the initiative was Cheryl Regehr, the provost and vice-president.

"Her response was 'How can we do this and how can we do this right away,'" Simpson said.

Simpson, of Alderville First Nation, said they've had "strong support from senior leadership" who wanted to drive the initiative forward "almost quicker than we could get it together."

Indigenous students from the continental United States will pay the domestic Ontario tuition rate in recognition of the 1794 Jay Treaty between Great Britain and the United States, which states that Indigenous people may travel freely across the international boundary.

In May 2022, the university began applying the domestic Ontario tuition rate to Indigenous students from elsewhere in Canada.

Simpson said there are further plans to fulfil the recommendations of the Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin report including building an Indigenous house on the Scarborough campus where students can access support through student services.