As Canada strives to protect its coastlines and waterways, integrating Indigenous knowledge and communities into maritime strategies is not just an opportunity but a necessity. RaceRocks, a woman-led, Indigenous-owned training modernization company, has been at the forefront of transforming training solutions for over a decade. Our expertise lies in leveraging immersive technologies and culturally aligned programs to address complex challenges in aerospace, defence, and maritime sectors. In this presentation, we will showcase our Indigenous Mariner Training (IMT) initiative, which revitalizes the connection between coastal Indigenous communities and their maritime heritage. Aligned with Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan, this initiative enhances marine safety, stewardship capabilities, and economic growth by fostering marine-related education and career opportunities. Through a combination of advanced distributed learning tools and culturally tailored curriculum, IMT empowers communities to restore our coastlines and respond effectively to marine incidents and environmental threats. We will detail IMT’s ongoing pilot program, developed in collaboration with the CCG and Northern Coastal Nations, which features an MVP Distributed Learning courseware designed to protect Canada’s coastline. This program not only supports workforce development and monitoring but also presents a potential revenue generation pathway for Indigenous Nations, fostering long-term economic sustainability. Key themes include - Restoration: Strengthening the cultural and economic ties of coastal Indigenous communities to maritime traditions. Protection: Partnering with the Canadian Coast Guard leveraging distributed learning and advanced technologies to enhance environmental stewardship and marine safety. Defence: Working with the Royal Canadian Navy to address labour shortages and ensure Canada’s coastlines are prepared for future challenges. Join us to learn how fostering partnerships between Indigenous communities and industry leaders like RaceRocks is essential for advancing Canada’s coastal defence strategies and maritime innovation.