CNC uncover long-term vision to help Indigenous student body thrive

A new five-year Indigenous Education strategy was unveiled by the College of Caledonia’s at its Prince George Campus today (Monday).

The initiative called Ihk’enazdulkat is aimed at creating a better future for Indigenous students allowing them to realize their potential and thrive within the post-secondary community.

Co-chair of the Yinka Dene Council, Ben Berland said improving First Nation graduation rates at this level is a main area of focus.

“As dismal as the K-12 rate is, the post-secondary graduation rate is even lower. We see kids who come here with the greatest of ambitions and then they are not being successful.”

“We are hoping to move forward with that and get it to the same level as any other student who goes to post-secondary school.”

CNC President Cindy Heitman told MyPGNow.com that in addition to increasing graduation rates, having Indigenous students enter high-demand careers is another point of emphasis.

“We are also looking to see an increase in student enrollment and enrollment into a variety of programs such as the trades, health sciences – the community has said we need allied health care workers in our community and we need to support communities with that.”

Providing a culturally-rich environment for Indigenous students is also paramount according to Heitman.

“You can’t learn if you do not feel safe and that you do not feel like you belong. And that is really our first step and it will be when people come to visit CNC that we are true leaders and you will see, feel and hear culture.”

The plan highlights three key areas including connect, understand and empower.

1. Connect– CNC commits to building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous
communities not just through dialogue but by recruiting more students to the College and hiring more Indigenous employees to increase representation at CNC;

2. Understand– CNC commits to increasing cultural understanding by improving cultural awareness and humility for all employees. We will also take steps towards reconciliation by working with communities to meet their education and training needs, thereby helping achieve their hopes and aspirations of healthy, thriving, and vibrant communities; and

3. Empower– Most importantly, communities want their students to succeed in their educational and career goals. This involves providing access into programs; Indigenizing academic curriculum, delivery and assessment; and providing relevant and culturally appropriate supports throughout their learning journey.

For the next five years, lhk’enazdulkat and its related changes will seek to help students:

• Feel that they belong in the CNC community and are safe and welcome;
• Believe in themselves and their unique talents and gifts; and
• Realize their potential and achieve their dreams.

Over 22 Indigenous communities provided feedback into the plan.

The first-year of the plan will see the college focus on launching an Indigenous understanding and learning series and hosting a ‘People of this Place’ seminar.