SIFC is an Indian controlled university college. The College offers undergraduate and graduate university courses in an environment of Indian cultural affirmation. While being academically and physically part of the university, it hires its own faculty and staff, offers unique programs, and has a personalized student services department. Academically, students are members of the University of Regina and SIFC. The College operates under the mandate and control of the Indian Governments of Saskatchewan through a Board of Governors (formerly, Board of Directors) representatives of the Chiefs of Saskatchewan.

In 1969 the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (Today the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, FSIN) launched a task-force on Education which produced a two volume report.
SIFC, federated with the University of Regina in 1976, is fully accredited.

September, 1976, SIFC opens with 9 students and offered classes in Indian studies, Indian Languages, Social Work, Fine Arts, Social Sciences, and the Indian Teacher Education.

June 21, 2003 – The name of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College is officially changed to the First Nations University of Canada.