A new agreement will see post-secondary students to achieve a Bachelor of Indigenous Education, a four-year program, here in Yorkton.
Last Thursday the presidents of the First Nations University of Canada and Parkland College signed a partnership Thursday for delivery of a four-year Bachelor of Indigenous Education program at Parkland College’s Yorkton Campus. This delivery is based on the successful partnership started in 2012 at Parkland College’s Fort Qu’Appelle Campus.
Parkland College president Dwayne Reeve called the signing an exciting one from the college’s perspective as it builds on a “strong history of excellent programming.”
With the experience already achieved in Fort Qu’Appelle the expansion of the program to Yorkton is one Reeve said the College looks forward to.
The course will also build relationships with local First Nations, noted Reeve as course participants will spend time at reserve schools as part of the curriculum.
“We’ll be working with First Nations schools in the area,” he said, adding that element will provide “practical experience for our students.”
Dr. Mark Dockstator, president of the First Nations University of Saskatchewan (FNUS) said the new agreement will create new opportunities for area students.
“We are delighted to partner once again with Parkland College so that we can help learners pursue their academic dreams without requiring major upheaval from their home community. Delivering our program in Yorkton and Fort Qu’Appelle along with our other community- based programs means that our students can concentrate on thriving in their studies and not surviving in a new city,” he said, adding “we are certainly looking forward to the start here.”
Dockstator said the key element of the program being expanded to Yorkton is that is helps local students.
“It’s the benefit … that we go to the students,” he said.
The Bachelor of Indigenous Education program goal is to produce teachers who can promote First Nations control of First Nations education by developing and implementing First Nations’ content. Graduates are prepared to work within the framework of the Saskatchewan Core Curriculum. While the emphasis of the program is on Language Arts, specializations may be pursued in:
• First Nations Language Instructors’ Certificate
• Indian Arts
• Indigenous Languages
• Indigenous Studies
Dockstator said the agreement could provide the foundation for other delivery agreements between FNUS and Parkland College. He said the University is dedicated to bringing courses to students so the door is open to expand programming in Yorkton.
“It proves a model that is highly successful here in Saskatchewan,” he said.
There are 28 students registered for this fall’s program.
The program is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
The First Nations University of Canada is a unique Canadian institution that specializes in Indigenous knowledge, providing post-secondary education for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students alike within a culturally supportive environment. Since 1976 it has been providing a unique opportunity to study in an environment that supports First Nations cultures, languages, and values.
Since its inception in 1973, Parkland College has worked to expand the philosophy of life-long learning in East Central Saskatchewan. Among the seven basic principles upon which the community college system was founded is the idea that programs are to be developed in response to the needs of the community. Today, Parkland College offers a broad spectrum of educational services from trades training and high school upgrading to the province’s most diverse off-campus university offerings.
