Coast Mountain College's Indigenous programming featured at International symposium

The ongoing efforts from Coast Mountain College to respond to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made for some of the focus at an the 2019 Indigenous Education Symposium this week.

With representatives from the Northwest sharing some examples of some of the college's efforts to Indigenize the curriculum and provide for additional Indigenous student supports.

The Symposium which is being held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has attracted a wide range of educators from across Canada, and has seen travellers come from  far to the south from South America.

Today marked the final day of the three day gathering

The Tuesday presentations from Coast Mountain College were made by Bridie O’Brien CMTN’s Executive Director of Indigenization, Ali McDougall,Indigenous Relations and Executive Advisor to the President's Office, Sheree Ronaasen, University Credit professor and Ska’yan (Anita Davis), a Gitxsan hereditary chief.

As part of the look at the programs in the Northwest, Ska’yan took the forum participants through the elements of the People of the Skeena Field School that she hosts at the culture camp she  has run on the banks of the Skeena River for more than a decade.

With her support, the program has offered instruction to hundreds of students who have learned the importance of salmon to Gitxsan culture and been able to gain hands-on experience working with salmon and learning about the importance of place that goes back more than 10,0000 years. 

From the experience participants gain a deeper understanding of Gitxsan traditions through learning in the field and from community members.

The Executive Director of Indigenization at Coast Mountain College provided a glimpse of the current focus the college has towards their program, noting how the many services, programming  and cultural initiatives and spaces cover the expansive region that CMTN serves.

Following the Coast Mountain presentation, she also made note of the feedback that they received from the review of how they approach their Indigenous program.

“At the end of our presentation we received feedback from a Métis Elder who was very emotional and moved by seeing all that we are doing at CMTN, because coming from his personal experience, he never imagined that we could come this far.”

Much of the work that has taken place so far towards the Indigenous initiatives has come through the efforts of the Coast Mountain College First Nations Council, Justin Kohlman, the College's Acting President took note of that collaborative work and how it is now gaining exposure far beyond the Northwest area.

“It is so rewarding to come to an international conference and see the great work our people are doing get acknowledged by people from around the world. I believe that speaks not only to the great work of Coast Mountain College staff, but also the efforts of so many people from across our entire region.”

You can review more on Coast Mountain College's Indigenization program from the college website here.

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