By Northern Teacher Education Program

Bringing More Indigenous Teachers to the North

New Indigenous Teacher Education Program

Sep 5, 2019 | 9:55 AM

New Northern Indigenous Teacher Education Program Launched in La Ronge, Sask Air Ronge, Saskatchewan, September 5, 2019

A new Indigenous teacher education program rooted in Indigenous cultures and languages, and land-based pedagogy has been created in a partnership between The University of Regina Faculty of Education, Gabriel Dumont Institute, and Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

The four-year Bachelor of Education – Northern Saskatchewan Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NSITEP) is aimed at addressing the need for more teachers, especially Indigenous teachers in Northern Saskatchewan and across the province.

In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRU) Report Call for Action, NSITEP will focus on Indigenous worldviews and will prepare a new generation of Indigenous teachers equipped to build on the strengths of Métis, First Nations, and Inuit students, families, and communities, while also addressing their unique needs.

The program will be delivered by Gabriel Dumont Institute in collaboration with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) in La Ronge.

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“The new Northern Saskatchewan Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NSITEP) developed and offered in partnership with the Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and located on the territory of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band demonstrates how the Faculty of Education and the University of Regina are committed to more fully realizing their relational obligation to First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. The NSITEP recognizes the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, places a premium on learning within community, and is an attempt to better balance the typically asymmetrical relationships that have historically existed,” said Dr. Jerome Cranston, Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Regina.

“Gabriel Dumont Institute is very pleased to be a part of this important initiative to expand educational opportunities in the North. The Institute has been offering teacher education programs over the past four decades through the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) in partnership with the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. NSITEP is another important step in continuing our mandate of training Indigenous teachers,” said Dr. Earl Cook, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Education Minister and Chair of the Gabriel Dumont Institute Board of Governors.

“Effective teachers have a huge positive impact on the lives of our young people. Indigenous students are more empowered when they see themselves reflected in the curriculum, study resources, and in their teachers and school administrators; and all students are better off when diversity is embraced in schools,” said LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

The first cohort of 26 Métis and First Nations students have been accepted into the NSITEP program and will be starting their studies this week.

Métis individuals who have any questions regarding enrolment may contact Morris Cook at morris.cook@gdi.gdins.org; while questions on First Nations and Inuit student enrolment should be directed to Simon Bird at Simon.Bird@llribedu.ca.