Canada’s rich library of Indigenous cultures and traditions is an integral part of the nation’s identity. As the world continues to recognize and reflect on the importance of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, a new wave of academic training initiatives led by Indigenous communities has emerged across the country. These remarkable organizations are strengthening Canada’s talent pool, empowering Indigenous voices and revolutionizing education.
There are a number of Indigenous-led academic training groups that are actively redefining education for Canadians. We sat down with the founders of three of these Canadian-based organizations to learn more about the institutions and their background stories. Read on to hear what Founders Alejandro Mayoral Baños, Pablo Listingart and Darian Kovacs had to say.
How and why was your organization founded?
Alejandro Mayoral Baños, Founder and Executive Director, Indigenous Friends Association: “In 2015, I spearheaded the development of an App to help Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) students network with other members of York Universities Indigenous community. As a Mixtec/Totonac academic and activist, I realized that Indigenous communities experience high rates of discrimination within education and employment in the tech sector. There is an immense need to build and support technology by/with/for Indigenous youth through community engagement, and participation. The IFA was formed out of the need to connect and reinforce the holistic views of Indigenous Elders while supporting those who have traditionally been excluded from digital education.”
Pablo Listingart, Founder Executive Director, ComIT: “ComIT is a charitable organization founded in Manitoba and now working across Canada, that is on a mission to help change the lives of unemployed and underemployed people by providing free technology and professional skills training that will help them secure in-demand careers in technology in their community. It was created with the goal of providing access to digital skills training for people in economic vulnerability so they can be included in the current tech ecosystem.”
Darian Kovacs, Founder, Jelly Academy: “Jelly Academy is a digital marketing school that was founded in 2015 by myself and a small but mighty team. We saw a gap in tech training, and more importantly, saw a gap in the number of Indigenous-led training institutions across the country. We had the goal of diversifying the nation’s talent pool, supporting underrepresented groups and creating an organization that would make tech skills accessible and digestible. Jelly Academy was born.”
In what way is your organization helping to improve the lives of Indigenous communities in Canada?
Alejandro: “The IFA is making strides in advancing digital pathways rooted in Indigenous ways of
knowing and being through four different programs. The first is our Indigital Program, which offers an enriching journey for participants to explore healing by combining art and technology. Delving into the realms of Indigeneity, the program intertwines digital art and technology to foster digital literacy and artistic skills among Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. The second is our IndigiMobile Program, which is a software development initiative to imagine, create and deploy digital applications that integrate Indigenous traditional knowledge and values into their design where privacy and community expressions are central to it. Some of the successful projects of this program are IndigiFriends
and IndigiHealth apps that are available in Google Play and Apple Store. The third is the IFA Research Department, which supports the Organization’s mission of advocating for digital pathways while rooted in the tenet of self-determination to address the barriers experienced by the Indigenous youth from entering and transitioning towards sustainable careers in tech and innovation. We build an ecosystem that ushers Indigenous communities to participate in the digital future. The fourth is our IndigiTECH Mentorship Program which aims to provide digital literacy skills and employment support to Indigenous Peoples who are interested in pursuing careers in technology and development.
Pablo: Our goal has been to provide free access to different digital skills training to many Indigenous communities who are currently not able to access the current offerings. ComIT has been providing different paths of tech learning for those who are eager to explore new career opportunities while having an economic impact in their families and in their local communities.”
Darian: “Diversity and inclusion have remained at the forefront of every decision made by Jelly Academy. We are motivated by the belief that a diverse workforce is only attained through equitable actions, which has directly translated into our non-negotiable policy that our programs must be equally accessible to students from all backgrounds. In 2021, we introduced our scholarship program where full-ride scholarships and team funding was offered to Indigenous communities, People of Colour and women. In the first year of the program, $180k worth of scholarships were provided. Since 2022, over $300,00 worth of scholarships have been awarded.”
What is a challenge that your organization has faced? How did you overcome it?
Alejandro: “Working with third-party organization partners who don’t have an understanding of our participant abilities, outside of a traditional Westernized scope. A challenge that has been faced by IFA is the post-secondary requirements from our partners when trying to find Internship opportunities for our graduates of the IndigiTECH program. IFA overcame this problem by having a resilient partnership team that focuses on merging the gap and overcoming the hurdle of post-secondary education. An emphasis is placed on our partnership teams to advocate and share the great talents/skills of our graduates and focus on what skills are needed for internship positions from our partners.”
Pablo: “We face multiple challenges on a daily basis. From the usually mentioned connectivity issues in many remote communities to changing the mindset of the tech industry so they can provide more entry-level opportunities to talented individuals looking to enter the labour market. We are also trying to present the possibility of remote work in tech to people who are currently not evaluating a career in this industry. In this way, they can bring their talents to the table in a sector that is much in need of talent.”
Darian: “One challenge Jelly Academy has faced along the way was a lack of precedents. The world of digital marketing, micro-credentials, upskilling and reskilling is fairly new, and the industry is learning each and every day. Jelly Academy, as a thought leader in its industry, has had to pave the way instead of following suit. We believe that in order to see real, tangible change—someone will always have to take the first step in creating it. We were happy to be part of that.”
Canada’s Indigenous-led academic training organizations, led by inspiring founders like Alejandro Mayoral Baños, Pablo Listingart and Darian Kovacs, are playing a vital role in strengthening the nation’s talent pool, empowering Indigenous voices and revolutionizing education. By supporting Indigenous-led training organizations, we simultaneously support cultural strength and awareness, and tech talent development. It’s a win-win!
