Native education gets high marks in Thunder Bay

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With its mid-Canada location, it seems natural that Thunder Bay, Ont. is a centre for First Nations' postsecondary education. With leadership from the Aboriginal community plus a commitment from two post-secondary institutions and the support of local education councils, the city continues to grow as a gathering point for Native students.

"Within the next five to 10 years, we hope to have an Aboriginal college within a college," says Brenda Small, associate dean of Aboriginal studies at Confederation College. "We are already well on the way."

The co-ordinator for Aboriginal initiatives at Lakehead University, Nova Lawson, says, "Lakehead University is the only university in Canada to make Aboriginal studies such a high priority."

The idea of an Aboriginal college within a college is an exciting one.

When asked what this college would look like, Small says that they are researching what others have done. There are tribal colleges in the U.S. and New Zealand as well as the Institute of Indigenous Government in British Columbia, and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College at the University of Regina.

Confederation College is looking to these models but plans to reflect its own needs. "It is integral to work through this research and planning phase in partnership with the board of governors of the existing college. There needs to be a collective vision of what the partnership will be," says Small.

Even now, the college offers programs not found elsewhere in Canada. One of these is the Aboriginal Law and Advocacy Program, which teaches community development and dispute resolution through exploring issues of policy, advocacy and Indigenous government. To be sure the curriculum is current, the program has an advisory committee from institutions such as Osgoode Hall Law School, Harvard University, Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services, and the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat.

Lakehead University has almost 800 full- and part-time Aboriginal students on campus, with about 200 taking specifically Aboriginal programs. In its new strategic plan the university pledges to "build on its strengths in academic programming in order to be recognized as a centre of excellence in Aboriginal learning."

The university has formed a variety of partnerships with the local Native community. Within the institution, Aboriginal students act as role models for younger students and an effective Elders-In-Residence program is in place. Both Confederation College and Lakehead University have Aboriginal student lounges, support services and student councils that plan cultural, social and athletic events on and off campus.

In addition, there are several Native-initiated off-campus supports for students in Thunder Bay, outside of transitional educational programs.

The Aboriginal Post-secondary Education and Training Council (APSETC), originally called the Neegahnewin Board, has played a large part in setting the policy direction of education in this area since1991. It identifies needed Aboriginal programs, tracks occupational shortages, and recommends programs to the institutions. It represents the community-based interests of Aboriginal peoples in achieving self-determination and governance.

The region's Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) has a different focus. It operates on the basis that educational and social needs are both important while students are away from their communities. The council arranges in-school high school programs, counselling, boarding homes and extra-curricular programs. It ensures students have funding for tuition and travel to and from school. Murray Waboose of NNEC says, "The bottom line for this student-centred service is to have students graduate."

Why is there such a strong commitment to provide academic excellence for Native students in Thunder Bay? It is partly due to a forward vision by education administrators. But mostly, it is leadership from the regional Aboriginal community who decide what is currently neeed in education and what they want for the future.

With continued effort, an Aboriginal college in central Canada will become a reality.