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Aboriginal Leadership Certificate at North Island College

The Aboriginal Leadership Certificate allows Indigenous students to gain practical tools and knowledge to work at management and administrator levels within Indigenous organizations across Canada. NIC is honoured to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish traditions, on whose traditional and unceded territories NIC’s campuses […]

The Aboriginal Leadership Certificate allows Indigenous students to gain practical tools and knowledge to work at management and administrator levels within Indigenous organizations across Canada. NIC is honoured to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish traditions, on whose traditional and unceded territories NIC’s campuses are situated.

Albert Dawson – Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program Participant – BC Canada

Albert Dawson has participated and completed the Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program (AETP).

The AETP is a program that is delivered in partnership with Heiltsuk Tribal Council, Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo), and North Island College (Comox). This program is an opportunity for Indigenous students to obtain 33 transferable credits to a university and a variety of certificates including; wilderness first aid, CPR level 3, Radio Operators Certificate – Maritime, first host, as well as kayak/canoe/stand-up paddleboard. This program delivers monthly 7-9 day condensed courses, through a 9-10 month period, and takes place in various communities where participants have the opportunity to meet local business owner/operators obtaining hands-on, lived experiences that simply cannot be learned within a classroom. The AETP has a 100% graduation rate, and has contributed to returning to University, as well as, led to a variety of seasonal and full-time employment for its students.

Cultural Learner – Terry Reid

Terry Reid is dedicated to learning the cultural traditions and languages from his Heiltsuk and Oweekeno speaking grandmother who is a knowledge keeper and knows much about traditional medicines.

Terry Reid is of Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) and Oweekeno (Rivers Inlet) decent. Throughout the past couple of years, Reid has dedicated his time to learning cultures and traditions from his grandmother Evelyn. Evelyn is a fluent speaker of both Heiltsuk and Oweekeno languages and was a language teacher at the Bella Bella Community School. Evelyn is a knowledge keeper and a champion of traditional medicines. Reid has relocated to Oweekeno to learn about culture, best practices and techniques in teaching cultural traditions from his grandmother Reid shares his insights into what he has learned; what works and what may not. Reid has a passion for learning about the culture and hopes that one day he will have the knowledge needed to assist the continuance of our ways of life. Reid has recognized the importance of language to culture and hopes to preserve the uniqueness of the Heiltsuk Nation on the west coast of BC.

Niagara College – Indigenous Student Success Leader

Ashley Buch speaks about the importance of identity, space, and fostering relationships with Niagara College staff to support Indigenous students.

Ashley Buck works to create a culturally sensitive space and to provide services to Indigenous students that are important to their success within both of the Niagara College campuses. This program acknowledges that students are the experts (TRC Calls to Action), and uses their input and knowledge to shape the services provided. Utilizing Indigenous student voices taps into knowledge that they have been given by their ancestors which empowers students while promoting leadership to shape education and campus culture.

Living in two worlds can be a challenge to an Indigenous student, especially for those living in an urban centre for the first time. The Indigenous lounge is a physical space where peer support and community is fostered. Buck explains that mirroring the support of an Indigenous community is a goal of the program. Such support enables students to make the transition to a college atmosphere easier and increases their ability to achieve success in their studies. Taking the lead from students, this mirroring has involved smudging, talking circles, meetings with Elders, and soup luncheons. The program seeks to advocate for Indigenous awareness within the college by hosting their 2nd annual Indigenous Awareness Month.

Indigenous Land Guardians

The Indigenous Land Guardians program is designed to train local Dene people to become knowledgeable in their local culture and traditions as well as current conservation and monitoring practices.

Josh Barichello shares about the Indigenous Land Guardians program in Ross River. The program is still in the development stage and Barichello is a part of the development team for the program. The program is designed to train local Dene people to become knowledgeable in their local culture and traditions as well as current conservation and monitoring practices. The program will utilize traditional and ecological knowledge with scientific knowledge to build a bridge between both worlds so that their land, wildlife, and water is being well managed.

The Malahat Life Skills Program – “The Malahat Way”

The Malahat Life Skills Program is a unique ‘hybrid’ program that invites participants to explore how the traditional teachings may offer solutions for present-day demands.

The program is steeped in culture and tradition, the program aims to help members and residents of the Malahat Nation create and live the life they want to live. The Malahat Life Skills Program has increased the sense of belonging, ability, and autonomy of participants by improving the overall sense of wellbeing throughout the Malahat Nation. A cornerstone of the on-going Malahat Life Skills Program includes a Personal Life Plan (PLP) for all participants and Cultural Inquiry. Consisting of clear achievable long and short-term goals, the PLP gives participants their own unique directions to move to where they want to go in life. The PLP’s help to meet the specific needs of each participant and helps the Nation direct and provide services towards helping members succeed. Cultural Inquiry helps participants discover the potential of traditional teachings as positive instruments for their future, increasing participants pride and confidence to face the challenges they may encounter in the creation of their own desired future. Participants of the Malahat Life Skills Program have experienced what it is to be successful in setting long term goals for themselves, plan the needed action steps, and actually move toward their goals and objectives.

PWK High School Sweetgrass Culture Camp

All grade 7 and 8 students attend this fall culture camp in Wood Buffalo National Park. Here they learn land-based skills, canoe safety, traditional medicines and much more. This camp is supported by the local school board and community.

All grade 7 and 8 students attend this fall culture camp in Wood Buffalo National Park. Here they learn land-based skills, canoe safety, traditional medicines and much more. This camp is supported by the local school board and community.

PWK High School Winter Camp

PWK Highschool in Fort Smith holds an annual winter expedition where students learn traditional trapping, fishing, and hunting in a safe, continuous manner. The facilitators are local Elders and knowledge keepers.

PWK Highschool in Fort Smith holds an annual winter expedition where students learn traditional trapping, fishing, and hunting in a safe, continuous manner. The facilitators are local Elders and knowledge keepers.

Northern Cultural Expressions Society Beginners Carving Program

Reconnecting high risk youth through carving and traditional knowledge to find balance.

The Beginners Carving Program is for high risk youth but also for anybody who’s interested, “from the cradle to the grave”. The overall goal of this program is to reconnect youth to traditional ways of knowledge, art, the land, language and elders, in order to be productive in the future. This program is also a wellness program with hopes that they can become substance free and find balance in their life. This program is offered in studio as well as on the land, throughout the year. More information can be found at: https://northernculture.org/about-us-2/.

Northern Cultural Expressions Society Art Education Program

This transformational program allows First Nations mentors/Master Carvers to go into Yukon schools and educate all students about traditional art forms and more.

The Art Education Program is for school aged children from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This transformational program allows First Nations mentors/Master Carvers to go into Yukon schools and engage with all students (First Nations and Non), in order to educate them about traditional art forms. Along with this, students also learn more about the traditions, the history and stories behind carving. More information can be found here: https://northernculture.org/art-education-program-overview/.