Indigenous Inclusion
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NBCCD Alumna Samaqani Cocahq: Sharing the Teachings of her Ancestors
NBCCD
We tend to doubt our abilities to do the things we have never tried before. We intuitively gravitate toward the safe and familiar, the sure and reliable. We put projects on hold until some future moment when we will be better equipped, more knowledgeable, ready. Samaqani Cocahq (Natalie Sappier) has burned her doubts in a fire of…

New Okanagan College program help support workers better serve Indigenous people and communities
Okanagan College
A new program developed by Okanagan College in collaboration with local First Nations communities and regional Aboriginal organizations will prepare learners to step into community support work assisting Aboriginal individuals and families. The Aboriginal Community Support Worker Certificate program launches on November 28 at the College’s Salmon Arm campus. It will include a practicum with…

New program from KPU addresses cultural knowledge and justice issues within Indigenous communities
Kwantlen Polytechnic
A first-of-its-kind Indigenous studies program launching this fall at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will focus on community and justice. KPU aptly announced its new minor in Indigenous community justice program on National Aboriginal Day. “My hope is that this minor will play a role in honouring, acknowledging, and respecting Indigenous peoples,” said criminology instructor Dr.…

Orange shirt day at Camosun College, one of many Indigenous student initiatives
Camosun College
On September 29 many Camosun students, employees and community supporters will wear orange shirts to show their commitment to the principle that every child matters and to show support for those who attended residential schools and their families. With the support of the Camosun Board of Governors and Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen: the Centre for Indigenous Education…

Saskatchewan Polytechnic unveils Truth and Reconciliation display
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatchewan Polytechnic celebrates National Aboriginal History month with unveiling of Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports Eugene Arcand, a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Indian Residential School Survivor Committee, spoke at Saskatchewan Polytechnic about the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. A set of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports donated by Arcand to Sask…

Saskatchewan Polytechnic makes Indigenous a way of life
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
One single word can have a lot of power. For years, Saskatchewan Polytechnic has used the term “Aboriginal” when discussing its First Nation, Métis and Inuit students and the programs and services designed to support them. However, the term has a murky past — it was not chosen by any group it refers to. But,…

FSIN partners with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to focus on Indigenous student success
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and Saskatchewan Polytechnic signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set a framework to promote the Inherent and Treaty Right to Education for First Nations students and implement the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. “Education is the key to prosperity for…

Georgian College Land Acknowledgment
Georgian College
On November 2, 2016, Georgian College unveiled a land acknowledgment plaque acknowledging that all of its campuses are located on traditional Anishnaabeg territory. Georgian has offered Indigenous services and programs since 1992. The land acknowledgment marked the beginning of a college-wide effort to further infuse Indigenous ideas and values into Georgian’s curriculum, student services, activities,…

Indigenous Metal Fabricator program teaches more than a trade
BCIT
It’s her last afternoon in the BCIT Metal Fabricator Foundation program and Niki Jenkins is putting the final touches on a canoe paddle adorned with Indigenous designs. While the designs may be traditional, the paddle’s material—steel—is not. It’s Niki’s contribution to a group project—a steel canoe with accompanying paddles—her class is working on. Initiated by Steel Trades instructor Don…

Indigenous students form first graduating class of Langara’s new health program
Langara College
Langara College is pleased to congratulate the five First Nations students who will form the first graduating class of the new Health Care Assistant Program. “I am very honoured to have been able to participate in this program as it is part of a stepping stone path that paves the way for future generations to be…

New Reconciliation Carving Series begins with a feast
Langara College
Langara College’s new Reconciliation Carving Series began in 2016 in the most appropriate form: a feast. Opening a conversation with a feast is a well-known First Nations cultural tradition. It is a vehicle for participants to not only nourish oneself, but to get to know one another before embarking on the work of the day. Much in the…

NAIT Aboriginal Youth Leadership program sponsored by Cenovus
NAIT
Empowering Aboriginal Youth In 2011, NAIT partnered with Cenovus Energy and the Government of Canada to launch an outreach program for aboriginal youth. The Aboriginal Youth Leadership program was initially offered to 66 youth from the Dene Tha First Nation community located near High Level in Northern Alberta. Inspired by the pilot program’s success, Cenovus…

Selina August: A voice for her people
Capilano University
Selina August began her career at Vancouver’s office of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, travelling widely to serve the needs of British Columbia’s 198 First Nations. One day, August’s supervisor recommended she work for her own community in shíshálh (Sechelt). Only then could she find true compassion. August moved back home. She enrolled in Sechelt Nation…

Selkirk College Heavy Mechanical program students overcomes and gives back
Selkirk College
Overcoming obstacles on the way to a successful educational pathway is something the majority of post-secondary students can understand. A recent graduate on Nelson’s Silver King Campus knows what it’s like to stare into the face of adversity and triumph. As a residential school survivor, Selkirk College student Running Wolf has dealt with numerous challenges…

Slocan Narrows archaeological project gets students hands-on with history
Selkirk College
Hamilton College’s Slocan Narrows Archaeological Project has returned to the shores of the Slocan River bringing post-secondary students from across the continent to excavate and document history uncovered in a cluster of First Nations pithouses. Selkirk College’s Reyna Brown is a local student participating in the archeological dig taking place this year. Uncovering links to…

UBC Okanagan next stop for Selkirk College scholar
Selkirk College
Getting the right start at Selkirk College is exactly what Haley Seven Deers accomplished over the last two years in the School of University Arts & Sciences where she arrived as a 16-year-old who was homeschooled. In September, the young scholar will move to Kelowna where she will have the opportunity to complete her undergraduate…

Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB), proud training partner of the New Brunswick’s First Nations!
CCNB
CCNB is extremely proud to work with New-Brunswick’s First Nations Communities to provide quality and custom training programs that lead to meaningful employment opportunities. Over the years, CCNB has developed an expertise in providing quality and customized training programs adapted to the cultural and economic needs of the Aboriginal community. CCNB has developed solid and…

JIBC further supports fire officer training in Quebec
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Eight members of the Cree Nation are the latest Quebec First Nations firefighters to graduate from a Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) fire training program. The firefighters graduated from JIBC’s Fire Prevention Officer Certificate program, which has been designed to meet the competencies and training standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for…

Planning for a future through education
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Malcolm Stewart has always wanted to further his education. Ironically, it took an injury to give him the opportunity. Malcolm, 47, hails from the Nisga’a Nation in northwestern BC. He’s spent the past 20 years working in the construction industry as a carpenter, and most recently as a construction safety officer/occupational first aid attendant at…

First Nations firefighters in Quebec graduate from JIBC firefighting programs
Justice Institute of British Columbia
The Justice Institute of British Columbia’s (JIBC) latest firefighter graduates hail from First Nations in northern Quebec and will now have the needed skills to respond to emergencies in their communities. The program, funded by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, began in July 2016 with JIBC’s Fire & Safety Division training members of the Kahnawake…

Justice and public safety program for Aboriginal students a lifesaver
Justice Institute of British Columbia
When Jessie Jensen enrolled in a new program at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), she saw it as a way to gain new skills and take steps toward a new career. She never dreamed her courses would help her save another life so soon. Jessie, 20, lives with her parents who care for a…

JIBC officially opens its Aboriginal Gathering Place in New Westminster
Justice Institute of British Columbia
With a traditional Aboriginal ceremony, witnessing and the sharing of food, Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) celebrated the opening of its new Aboriginal Gathering Place at the New Westminster Campus on May 26, 2016. The new facility was funded by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and is dedicated to teaching, learning and exchange in…

NVIT partners with CMHA to offer mental health workshop geared towards Indigenous students
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
from the Merritt Herald: As the weather turns in the month of October, the collective mood of students at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology also tends to take a turn. Which is why the school has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to bring the Beyond the Blues Education and Screening Day to…

Algonquin College launches first-of-its-kind Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship
Algonquin College
from the Ottawa Citizen: Algonquin College is set to launch a $44.9-million building and renovation project on Wednesday that will include an institute for indigenous entrepreneurship, the first of its kind in an Ontario college. The entire project, expected to be completed in the spring of 2018, will transform the outdated library in the C…

Kwantlen Polytechnic partners with Tsawwassen First Nation to gain perspectives on Indigenous food systems
Kwantlen Polytechnic
from the Delta Optimist: Everyone has heard of the 100-mile diet. But can you imagine surviving on a 10-mile diet? Now you can. Thanks to a collaboration between the Tsawwassen First Nation and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), consumers can enjoy a diet that is much, much closer to home and features a plethora of veggies,…
CNC to provide special Indigenous success workers and “Elder Hours” with funding from BC Advanced Education
College of New Caledonia
from My Prince George Now: Aboriginal post-secondary students in Prince George will feel more welcomed this school year thanks to more support services funding. The Ministry of Advanced Education is giving the College of New Caledonia $375,000. This will fund special success workers, and programs “Elder Hours,” and cultural events. Aboriginal Education Director Marlene Erickson…

Langara College partnership helps Indigenous students access university education
Langara College
from Maclean’s: Last year, Nicole Cardinal, a 40-year-old married mother of two achieved a dream, transferring into the third year of the University of British Columbia’s First Nations studies program. She was one of 12 Indigenous students who broke educational barriers through a three-year pilot project devised by Langara College and UBC. That pilot project later turned into…

Sault College partners to offer pathway from Anishinaabemowin certificate to Indigenous B.Ed
Sault College
from Sault Online: Reflecting Trent’s groundbreaking leadership in Indigenous education and commitment to offering pathway opportunities to assist students in making the transition from diploma to degree studies, Trent University has signed a new articulation agreement with Sault College, admitting graduates of the Anishinaabemowin certificate program to Trent’s new Indigenous Bachelor of Education program with…

NWCC displays art donated from First Nations Fine Arts students
Northwest Community College
It was a momentous event for First Nations Fine Arts students on December 8, 2016 when two carvings, crafted by Freda Diesing herself, were donated to the art studio at Northwest Community College. Donors Kelsey Wiebe (on behalf of her grandparents, Jim & Jane Christison) and Corey Bulpitt, presented a Wolf Panel carving and a…

First Nations students gain FSW/PSW skills through Confederation College – AETS partnership
Confederation College
Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS) in partnership with St. Joseph’s Care Group and Confederation College, are proud to announce the completion of the Food Services Worker (FSW) and Personal Support Worker (PSW) Training Programs. The collaboration engaged 44 Aboriginal Learners with 30 successful graduates representing nine North Superior Region First Nation communities, which lead…

Rural, remote and Indigenous youth participate in Confederation College science outreach program
Confederation College
Recently, more than 30 Grade Eight students from Kingsway Park Public School visited Confederation College to take part in the final phase of the Indigenous Interpretive Trail Map project with Let’s Talk Science Outreach. Thanks to a three-year, $456,900 grant made by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2013, the organization has been able to provide…

Vancouver Island University to establish Indigenous mentorship program through US State Department funding
Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is the only Canadian university to receive funding through the US State Department’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund after a proposal submitted to the organization with California’s Pitzer College was successful. The funding will be used to bring two established Indigenous mentorship programs together for the benefit of high…

SIIT reaches 100th Indigenous journeyperson milestone
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
from CBC News: The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies in Saskatoon is celebrating a milestone in building a solid future for Indigenous workers in the province. SIIT has just trained its 100th journeyperson. Blake Brass is a welder who works at Wadena Steel. “We are proud to have reached this milestone during our 40th anniversary,” said…
North Island College to train Lillooet Indigenous people for local mining jobs with Canada/BC funding
North Island College
Up to 12 Aboriginal people in the Lillooet area are receiving the training they need for jobs in their communities, thanks to the federal-provincial partnership under the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement. Approximately $199,000 has been allocated to North Island College to deliver the Underground Mining Certificate program for employment at Avino Silver and Gold Mines’…

Confederation College and Fort William First Nation create Indigenous learning opportunities
Confederation College
Representatives from Confederation College and Fort William First Nation (FWFN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today. The MOU will build on the partners’ existing relationship to create new and significant opportunities for Indigenous learners in the First Nation and beyond. Specifically, the MOU formalizes ongoing efforts to offer community-based education and training in a blended…

Fanshawe College forges stronger relationship with COTT First Nation on post-secondary education
Fanshawe College
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 18, 2016, Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (COTT) and Fanshawe College celebrated the forging of a new and growing relationship bringing post-secondary education to the people of Chippewa of the Thames First Nation. “Partnerships with Canada’s educational institutions like the one we have with Fanshawe helps to write…

Algonquin College and Cambrian College launch Indigenous student success program
Algonquin College, Cambrian College
An innovative program that aims to enhance Indigenous student recruitment, retention, and success is underway at Algonquin College and Cambrian College. Both institutions will be working with Indigenous communities on a new Indigenous Student Performance Success Program focused on producing research that will identify factors that help or hinder Indigenous students as they pursue postsecondary studies at each…

Aurora College B.Ed program teaches techniques and history from Indigenous elders
Aurora College
from Maclean’s: In the second year of Aurora College’s bachelor of education program, students leave the classroom and retreat into the bush outside Fort Smith, N.W.T. to learn on the land. For five days each fall, aspiring teachers learn to set up a teepee, scale fish, chop wood, cook bannock over a fire, all under…

Okanagan College to open new $40,000 Indigenous garden
Okanagan College
from INFOnews.ca: Okanagan College will have a new addition to its Kelowna campus this summer – an Indigenous garden. The $40,000 garden will have a prominent location just north of the Centre for Learning Building, according to an Okanagan College media release, one of the busiest buildings for students and staff. The 6,000 square foot…

NVIT to deliver new program to help Indigenous participants with job readiness and education upgrades
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
from Business Examiner: Up to 205 First Nations people in communities stretching from Prince George to Fort Nelson will benefit from new skills-training opportunities designed to spark careers in trades and technical jobs such as carpentry, piping, welding, carpentry, machining and electrical. Funding of more than $2.1 million is being provided for five projects through…
Red River College launches redesign of ACCESS program to better meet Indigenous education needs
Red River College
Red River College today announced plans to redevelop and expand its ACCESS programs in order to better meet the education needs of its Indigenous and other students, including providing them with an opportunity to enroll in a wider range of Red River College programs. At present, students enrolled in ACCESS are restricted to studying in…
Camosun, Vancouver Island University and North Island College provide training for Indigenous learners
Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, North Island College
More than 180 Aboriginal learners in the Vancouver Island – B.C. Coast Region are receiving training in their communities through programs that will prepare them for jobs in sectors such as construction, forestry and eco-tourism. The programs are delivered through partnerships involving Camosun College, the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, North Island College, the…
RRC create new Executive Director role to provide leadership on Indigenous strategy
Red River College
On the same day Mayor Brian Bowman called on the city to adopt a municipal Indigenous Accord, Red River College announced the creation of a new executive director position to provide leadership on advancing Indigenous education. The role of the executive director, Indigenous strategy will include providing direction on how best to expand programs and…

Cumberland College to launch Elders-in-Residence program
Cumberland College
from Prince Albert Now: A unique initiative at Cumberland College in Nipawin, Melfort and Tisdale will bring more Indigenous elders to campus. College President Tom Weegar said the ‘Elders-in-Residence’ program will offer students an opportunity to meet with Métis and First Nation Elders from around the region to engage in traditional teaching on various topics.…

Former BCIT student launches new augmented reality app to tell Indigenous stories
British Columbia Institute of Technology
from CBC Radio: Imagine Google Maps, Wikipedia, Pokémon Go and a Canadian Heritage Minute, all rolled into one. Now, imagine it all on your smartphone. The app in question is called Wikiupedia. It’s the brainchild of Adrian Duke, a tech entrepreneur who comes from the Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan. He imagines it as a powerful tool for sharing and preserving Indigenous history, by crowd-sourcing stories from…

Vancouver Island University grad launches Cree app to preserve Indigenous language
Vancouver Island University
from Global News: The Athabasca Tribal Council wants to make sure indigenous languages are not lost. So it took matters into its own hands — to put language back into the hands of youth. A free app, called ATC Cree, provides hundreds of words with their Cree translation. “It has categories of words,” developer Byron Bates…

Northern College celebrates Indigenous Mining graduates
Northern College
Northern College held a graduation ceremony for the final of four groups of Indigenous learners who graduated from the Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core program this morning at the Timmins Campus. Five students completed the latest intake of the 14-week training program, offered in partnership with Wahgoshig First Nation and Primero Mining Corp. This…

VIU partners with Nanwakolas Council to provide trades training for Campbell River Indigenous students
Vancouver Island University
from BC Local News: A group of 10 Aboriginal students from the Campbell River area will soon be getting a unique educational opportunity thanks to a new partnership between Nanwakolas Council and Vancouver Island University (VIU). The participants in the partnership will complete a five-week “Road Builder Foundation” course at VIU to give them an…

VIU’s first Indigenous counsellor addresses past trauma to help future generations
Vancouver Island University
from Nanaimo News Now: Vancouver Island University-Nanaimo’s first Indigenous counsellor is addressing trauma from her student’s past in order to help set the next generation up for a more productive future. Noelle Hanuse, from Oweekeno and Klahoose First Nations, started at the university’s Nanaimo campus in January. She already has roughly 20 clients, half of…
Lethbridge College partners with Saamis to offer Powerline Technician training for Indigenous community
Lethbridge College
Lethbridge College is pleased to announce the continuation of its partnership with Saamis Aboriginal Employment and Training Association and their partners to support a Powerline Technician program intake specifically for the Aboriginal community. In addition to the powerline technician training, this unique program includes essential skills training that will increase the success of participants in the program…

Lodgepole Indigenous Resource Centre opens at ACAD
Alberta College of Art + Design
Students, faculty, staff and the ACAD Elder Council gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Alberta College of Art + Design’s (ACAD) Lodgepole Center. The event, hosted by ACAD President + CEO, Dr. Daniel Doz, included speeches, a sacred pipe ceremony and a tour hosted by ACAD’s Indigenous Liaison, Tina Kinnee-Brown. The Lodgepole Center…

Cumberland College identifies Indigenous priorities
Cumberland College
from the Nipawin Journal: This May, Jason Henderson was a happy camper. Sporting a black button-up shirt and a shy grin, Henderson talked about himself a little shyly. It had taken him a couple of tries but Henderson finally graduated this spring from Cumberland College with a General Education Development (GED) certificate. It has been…

NorQuest College connects Indigenous workers with careers in construction
NorQuest College
from The Edmonton Journal: Christopher Bernard is freshly married and ready to get back into the construction business. Helping him with the many certifications and training programs the industry requires is the Alberta Aboriginal Construction Career Centre at NorQuest College. The program aims to connect aboriginal workers with employers in the construction industry. Bernard said construction work gives him…

Northern College’s Lightning Trail encourages Indigenous youth to write their own story
Northern College
from Timmins Today: It’s Day 3 of Northern College’s Lightning Trail and the Nish Olympics of outdoor activities like canoeing and swimming are winding down; and campers have also participated in a healing blanket session and have begun to learn about programs offered at the college. Things got underway with a lively, inspirational and entertaining start…

VIU appoints first Chair of Aboriginal Studies to research Restorative Justice and Indigenous Communities
Vancouver Island University
from BC Local News: Restorative justice and indigenous communities will be the research topic for the first appointee to a prestigious aboriginal chair position at Vancouver Island University. Roy Janisch has been named VIU’s inaugural Fulbright Canada Jarislowsky Visiting Research Chair in Aboriginal Studies. Janisch is an associate professor of justice studies at Pittsburg State…
Confederation College provides opportunities for First Nations youth through FNNRYEP
Confederation College
The First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program (FNNRYEP) is a 2-year pan-Boreal program with the affirmed goal to create awareness, generate interest and provide the pathway for First Nations youth between the ages of 16 to 18 to pursue education, training and employment in natural resource science based sectors such as forestry and mining. It offers…

Okanagan College begins second intake of job skills program for Indigenous students
Okanagan College
from BC Local News: With strong demand for construction trades workers, Okanagan College is offering a second intake of a program designed to help aboriginal students build job site skills, gain apprenticeship training and get on the fast track to employment. Construction craft worker aboriginal bridging runs from Sept. 12 to Dec. 16 and it…
St Lawrence College signs milestone memorandum for Indigenous students
St Lawrence College
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) has partnered with the State University of New York at Potsdam (SUNY) and St. Lawrence College (SLC) to begin a unique cross-border agreement. Students will need to first successfully obtain their General Arts and Sciences diploma conferred by St. Lawrence College and delivered by Iohahi:io in Akwesasne. Afterwards, this…

Mohawk College officially opens Indigenous gathering space
Mohawk College
The first outdoor Indigenous gathering space at any Ontario college or university officially opened today at Mohawk College. Hoop Dance at Mohawk’s Fennell campus will be used by students and community partners for outdoor classes, cultural presentations and traditional ceremonies. Work on the gathering space began last summer, with support from the Mohawk Students’ Association.…

Cumberland College signs new partnership on strengthening Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships
Cumberland College
Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Canada are coming together to forge a new partnership designed to strengthen Canada. The Cumberland College Board of Directors and the Cumberland College First Nations and Métis Advisory Council (FNMAC) are joining the effort by recently passing motions to sign the Declaration of Canadians for a New Partnership (CFNP). Cumberland…

SIIT boosts Indigenous skills development training with funding from Boeing
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) is pleased to announce that it has received a US$500,000 investment from Boeing, under Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits framework, in support of the Institute’s mandate to provide skills development training to the next generation of the Aboriginal workforce. “We are grateful to Boeing for its continued support…
Yukon College to make climate change research more relevant to northern Indigenous communities with SSHRC funding
Yukon College
University of Saskatchewan and Yukon College have been awarded a Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant to make climate change research more relevant to northern indigenous communities. This research will combine the disciplines of both science and art to support community adaptation to climate change. “This project brings together the Yukon School of Visual…

Algonquin College launches unique Indigenous cook pre-apprenticeship program
Algonquin College
A unique one-year program started this week for 20 pre-apprentices from across Canada. Over the next year, participants will learn the typical skills expected from a cook pre-apprenticeship, such as food theory, knife skills, classical kitchen language, and practical food preparation – the unique part of the program is how these skills are applied. Participants…

NorQuest College hosts first-ever Indigenous Achievement Ceremony
NorQuest College
A total of 83 self-identified Indigenous students completed certificate or diploma programs at NorQuest College in 2015-16. Of that number, approximately two dozen attended the achievement ceremony at Amiskwaciy Academy, and enjoyed the evening with family, friends, college staff, faculty and Elders, and honoured guests. An inspirational addition to the evening festivities was the Bull…

FNTI celebrates success of flight program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students
First Nations Technical Institute
from CBC News: A flight school aimed exclusively at Indigenous students is under financial pressure following a surge in applications. The First Nations Technical Institute on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., has operated a flight program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students since 1989. Enrolment in the program had dropped off in recent years, but…

Sask Polytech graduating Indigenous students honoured with special ceremony
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
from the Moose Jaw Times Herald: Graduating Indigenous students at Saskatchewan Polytechnic were recently honoured at a special ceremony at the Moose Jaw campus. This year was the first year all four Sask. Polytech campuses hosted an Indigenous honour ceremony, which was a big deal for student Conner LaPointe. “That was a great opportunity to…

Red Deer College launches three-year inclusiveness strategy focused on First Nations, Metis and Inuit students
Red Deer College
from the Red Deer Advocate: The overhead display at Red Deer College flashes an image of a piece of paper known as a “Treaty Ticket” that once belonged to former Samson Cree Nation Chief Jacob Louis. His son, Roy Louis, uses the ticket as part of a talk about the history of his people during…
Vancouver Island University’s Aboriginal Outdoor Classroom
Vancouver Island University
At Vancouver Island University, members of the Outdoor Education Committee are aiming to create an Aboriginal outdoor classroom on campus. Students will learn to become responsible stewards of their environment by becoming familiar with nature and developing the attitudes, values, and skills necessary to participate in resource stewardship. The Outdoor Classroom revolves around an interdisciplinary approach infused into a…

Indigenous Skateboard Workshop
Sheridan College
In the summer of 2016, Sheridan’s Faculty of Animation, Art and Design partnered with Sheridan’s Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support to create a skateboard workshop for First Nations high school youth. The skateboards were created in Sheridan’s Furniture Studio and the workshop was led by faculty member Connie Chisholm. Now in its second year,…

Sask Polytech honours Indigenous student achievements
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Looking to celebrate the hard work, dedication and achievements of our Indigenous students preparing to graduate, Saskatchewan Polytechnic hosted honour ceremonies across the province. Sask Polytech has been hosting Indigenous honour ceremonies for approximately 25 years. “Honour ceremonies give us the opportunity to celebrate the educational achievements of our Indigenous students,” says Jason Seright, director,…

Sask Polytech celebrates Intercultural Week
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatchewan Polytechnic prides itself as a diverse institution that welcomes people from all over the world to study, grow their skills and find success as they work towards their educational and career goals. March 21-24 will see each campus city host a number of events that honour and celebrate our diversity during the second annual…

Sask Polytech celebrates Indigenous success stories, every month of the year
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
While some calendars feature cute animals or silly jokes, the ASAP calendar seeks to inspire individuals by sharing some of the stories of Indigenous students and employees who have found success with both personal and educational goals at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “There are so many success stories we could share, it’s often hard to pick only 12,” says…

Sask Polytech celebrates Indigenous culture with new mural
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
The new mural at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Moose Jaw campus is another aspect of the institution’s indigenization efforts, which are developed towards reconciliation and long-term positive change. With enrolment for Indigenous students increasing 31 per cent since 2011-12, it is the responsibility of the entire organization to ensure every student feels welcome on our campuses.…

Hope and Fear Exhibition
Portage College
Portage College Native Arts and Culture students and instructors were invited by the University of Alberta to produce a piece for ‘Hope and Fear Our Collective Response’. An exhibition by the University of Alberta and Portage College Art and Design Departments. This artwork which incorporates caribou hair sculpting, porcupine quill plaiting, traditional leatherwork, beading, printmaking,…
U of A ATEP Program offered at Portage College
Portage College
Students in communities across Northern Alberta will benefit from a program being offered in partnership with the University of Alberta (U of A) in the fall of 2018. The Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) benefits college students ready to complete their third and fourth year of studies toward their Bachelor of Education Degree. The ATEP…

1970 – 26 Day Sit-in
Portage College
Portage College, then Alberta NewStart Inc., were about to close its doors due to shortage of funds. Local native people began to feel they must do what they could to re-open the centre and gain public support. At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 17, 1970, approximately 130 people took over the dormitory for a two-day meeting.…

Parkland College builds partnerships with First Nations
Parkland College
This spring, 11 students from Peepeekisis First Nation in East Central Saskatchewan completed a Housing Maintenance/Introduction to Carpentry program held in partnership with Parkland College. The Housing Maintenance program benefits all parties involved. Partnerships are formed between the College and local First Nation communities, and students gain the confidence and skills needed to pursue further post-secondary…

“The Workplace” Project: Real Training for the Real World
Parkland College
Over the past several years, Parkland College has partnered with File Hills Employment and Training Centre in Balcarres, SK to deliver a project called “The Workplace” to First Nations communities within the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council. “The Workplace” is a distinctive education and training program that simulates a work environment within the classroom. Students…

Creating pathways to careers in shipbuilding
Nova Scotia Community College
Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) has launched a program to give Indigenous students the education, support, and resources they need to work in the shipbuilding industry. The program is a partnership between NSCC, the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, Irving Shipbuilding, GE Canada, Unifor, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Government of Canada The Pathways to Shipbuilding Indigenous Education…

NC student raises awareness through Faceless Dolls workshop
Niagara College
They were lined up side by side on a table – each handmade felt doll carefully placed as the glue set on their yarn of hair and colourful dresses, adorned with accessories like beads and flowers. Each doll was crafted with creativity, care and consideration by students, staff and faculty. Each doll without a face.…

ELCC Students take the Leap of Leaving Home
Grande Prairie Regional College
Ashley Rowe and Brigitte Cockney left their hometown of Hay River, Northwest Territories with a population of roughly 4,000 people to come to the big city, and make their dreams a reality. “I was really afraid of leaving home,” says Rowe, GPRC Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) student. “Back home, everyone knows everyone, and…
FNTI: Leaders in Indigenous Inclusion
First Nations Technical Institute
First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) has been making education accessible to First Nations peoples for over 30 years. The institute is home to Canada’s only First Peoples Aviation program and also offers many programs at the college, and university level for both indigenous and non-indigenous learners. All of FNTI’s curriculum is infused with cultural teachings and practices…

Nunavik Sivunitsavut
Cégep John Abbott College
Nunavik Sivunitsavut (NS) means Nunavik: Our Future in Inuktitut. This postsecondary educational path was designed by John Abbott College, in collaboration with the Kativik School Board, to prepare the youth of Nunavik for the future political and cultural leadership of the region. As of fall 2017, students will study their history, language, land claims, and culture, and…

Cambrian and Atikameksheng Anishnawbek sign MoU
Cambrian College
Cambrian College and the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation, as represented by Chief Edward Steve Miller and Council, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will serve as a framework for strengthening their working relationship; addressing the educational needs of the First Nation; and promoting Indigenous culture at the College. The partnership will…

NBCCD Support the Creation of Mawi’art: Wabanaki Artist Collective
NBCCD
from Charles Gaffney, Department Head, NBCCD: In 2013, I had a vision regarding our graduating students of the Aboriginal Visual Arts (AVA) Program at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD). How great would it be for them to transition from college to a supporting entrepreneurial environment that would enable them to refine their business…

Cumberland College calendar promotes Indigenous art
Cumberland College
from the Melfort Journal: “A new calendar for 2017 is promoting the work of Indigenous artists young and old while also promoting education. The calendar was created by Cumberland College, who is partnering with the North East School Division. “We want to acknowledge and celebrate the work of our Indigenous students,” said Brenda Mellon, Manager…

Yukon College artistic collaboration explores climate change in northern communities
Yukon College
A collaborative project from Yukon College art students looks to tackle climate change through multimedia: from Maclean’s: “A collaboration between Yukon College’s school of visual arts in Dawson City, its Yukon Research Centre in Whitehorse and the University of Saskatchewan is adding a human dimension to the science of climate change. “We are trying to…

Medicine Hat College art installation raises awareness for MMIW across Canada
Medicine Hat College
In 2016, Medicine Hat College hosted its first ever REDress Project, an art installation in which red dress are hung around campus in order to raise awareness and memorialize the missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) across Canada. from Medicine Hat News: “A simple but beautiful red dress that’s easy to put on. It’s the…

College of the Rockies hosts “Repatriation as Reconciliation” art presentation
College of the Rockies
College of the Rockies was pleased to host a unique presentation from University of Victoria professor, Dr. Andrea Walsh, entitled ‘Repatriation as Reconciliation: Children’s Art from the Alberni Indian Residential School’. from the press release: “A visual anthropologist specializing in 20th century and contemporary aboriginal art, Dr. Walsh is interested in collections of objects and images…
Native Arts and Culture Alumni: Amy Malbeuf
Portage College
Portage College will be hosting a Visiting Artist Presentation in which accomplished alumni speak to students of the program from which they graduated. Recently, alumna Amy Malbeuf was invited to return to the College for a presentation to the public and for the students of the Native Arts and Culture Program. Having alumni return to the…
Leaders in Indigenous Inclusion
First Nations Technical Institute
First Nations Technical Institute has been making education accessible to First Nations peoples for over 30 years. We are home to Canada’s only First Peoples Aviation program. We also offer many programs at the college, and university level for both indigenous and non-indigenous learners. All of our curriculum is infused with cultural teachings and practices.…