Kenjgewin Teg receives $10 million gift from the Mastercard Foundation to strengthen Anishinabek-led education
M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION, ON (September 9, 2025) — Kenjgewin Teg has received a transformational $10 million gift from the Mastercard Foundation, the first donation to Kenjgewin Teg’s new Waawaaskonenh Foundation, which will officially launch later this year, on November 25. The investment is part of a national $235 million commitment by the Mastercard Foundation to advance Indigenous innovation in post-secondary education.
“Built on a Foundation of Anishinaabe principles, culture, and worldviews, Kenjgewin Teg plays an essential role in equipping young people to learn, work, and lead in ways that strengthen the self-determination of their Nations,” said Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director of Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. “We made a commitment to young Indigenous people that we would walk alongside them to transform post-secondary education in ways that support them to live a good life. This exemplary organization is contributing to that change and to a stronger country for us all.”
The announcement comes during the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, which recognized education as the critical path forward for reconciliation. With the support of this donation, the Waawaaskonenh Foundation will begin its journey to strengthen the funding stability of Kenjgewin Teg and its education model rooted in Anishinaabe knowledge, language, and culture.
“This gift will accelerate the implementation of the promise of First Nation control of First Nation Education—a premise articulated over 50 years ago by so many who came before us in Indigenous education,” said Dr. Beverley Roy, President of Kenjgewin Teg. “The Mastercard Foundation’s donation to Kenjgewin Teg via our Foundation is direct action toward implementing the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This generous gift demonstrates that the time is now for Indigenous peoples and Nations to show what Indigenous education is meant to be. We can now take significant steps forward because of this generous gift.”
Kenjgewin Teg is one of 30 Indigenous-led and partner organizations across Canada receiving this one-time investment. The Mastercard Foundation’s initiative recognizes the outstanding contributions of Indigenous Institutes and their partners in transforming post-secondary education through Indigenous leadership, innovation, and youth empowerment.
Since 2017, the Mastercard Foundation, through its EleV Program, has been working closely with partners across Canada to transform education and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth. This new commitment deepens the impact of the EleV Program, which to date has supported more than 65,000 young indigenous people through education, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
“This incredible gift will make a remarkable difference in what we have set out to do at Kenjgewin Teg – not only now but in the years to come,” added Dr. Roy. “Ideas and goals we set for ourselves in our upcoming strategic planning cycle will become that much easier, because of the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation. We are both humbled and honoured that we have been acknowledged nationally with this gift to continue the important work in building healthy and vibrant Nations. For us, this means advancing the education sovereignty of our proud and resilient Anishinabek Nation.”
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About Kenjgewin Teg
Kenjgewin Teg is an Anishinabek place of learning for all with campuses both on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island) in Northern Ontario and in Sudbury, Ontario. Grounded in the rich history, ancestral knowledge, stories, and traditional teachings of the land, Kenjgewin Teg is dedicated to nurturing students’ identities and sharing the richness of Anishinabek language (Anishinaabemowin), culture, and tradition with the world. For more information about Kenjgewin Teg, please visit www.kenjgewinteg.ca.
About Waawaaskonenh Foundation
The Waawaaskonenh Foundation is a registered charity that will officially launch with more momentum later this year, ready to empower Kenjgewin Teg learners through education rooted in culture, language, and identity.
About Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Its Young Africa Works strategy aims to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, while its EleV program will support 100,000 Indigenous youth in Canada to complete their education and transition to meaningful work aligned with their traditions, values, and aspirations. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board of Directors and Leadership team. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Robin Anderson
Marketing and Communications Specialist
Robinanderson@kenjgewinteg.ca
705-370-4342 ext 214