Program bringing university courses to Elsipogtog First Nation lacks stable funding [video]

Aotiitj is a two-year university program provided by St. Thomas University that allows members of Elsipogtog First Nation to begin their university studies in the community. I’m from Elsipogtog, and I entered university through the program. I did my first year through Aotiitj, then moved to Fredericton to study at the main campus. Now, I’m in my third year at STU. 

For this report, I spoke with three current Aotiitj students — Arianna Clement, Lance Francis, and Lisha Francis — about their positive experiences beginning post-secondary school at Aotiitj. I also interviewed Rob LeBlanc, who is the Aotiitj coordinator and a political science professor in the program. He discussed recent cuts to the program’s funding and called for the federal government to provide stable annual funding.

(Lisha and Lance are both NB Media Co-op news contributors, and Rob has also detailed the program’s funding issues in this Aug. 2025 commentary. -Ed.)

Indigenous Services Canada didn’t agree to an interview request for this report but provided a statement that said, in part, that it “will continue to discuss options that may lead to more stable funding in the future.” ISC doesn’t provide permanent funding for post-secondary education except for First Nations University, which is located in Regina, Sask.

Aotiitj receives funding through the Post-Secondary Partnerships Program. ISC said that program has an annual budget of $22.1 million and the program is “oversubscribed” due to factors including rising costs, an increasing Indigenous population, and increasing numbers of high school graduates.

Anna-Leah Simon is a student at St. Thomas University and a member of Elsipogtog First Nation. She is currently an intern for the NB Media Co-op.