Learn, relate & move forward
“Education is the key to reconciliation. Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out of this mess.”
Truth and Reconciliation Canada Commissioner, Senator Murray Sinclair (Ojibway), CBC, 2015
The college provides learning opportunities to create a space for dialogue and discovery about:
- Indigenous worldview
- Impacts of colonization
- Contemporary realities of Indigenous peoples
- Self-determination and Indigenous sovereignty; and,
- the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
These courses and workshops are a way for you to learn about Indigenous peoples and become aware of and respect differing perspectives, and build relevant and responsible relational practices.
What is indigenization?
Indigenization is the process by which Indigenous ways of knowing, being, doing and relating are incorporated into educational, organizational, cultural and social structures of the institution.
Courses
Camosun offers a number of courses designed to help learners understand who Indigenous Peoples are in Canada. All students can register for these courses.
- HLTH 111 – Indigenous Peoples’ Health
- IST 104 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing
- IST 116 – Indigenous Studies in Canada 1
- IST 120 – Introduction to Indigenous Peoples
- IST 136 – Indigenous Justice & Law
- IST 142 – Land, Water & Stewardship
- IST 205 – Indigenous Introduction to Social Work
- IST 206 – Indigenous Social Welfare
- IST 220 – Indigenous Art Studies
- IST 230 – Community Engagement & Action
- IST 232 – Indigenous Political Science
- IST 234 – Land and Language
- IST 241 – Gender and Identity
- IST 243 – Comparative Indigenous Issues
- ART 106 – Indigenous Perspectives in Art
Professional Development
Camosun offers employees a number of professional development opportunities that relate to understanding Indigenous peoples.
TELŦIN TŦE WILNEW (TTW) is an award winning, blended delivery course which provides insight into Indigenous world view; describes the impact of colonization and how it affects students attending the college today; contemporary realities facing Indigenous peoples and Indigenization at Camosun College.
Continuing Education
Camosun College’s continuing education offers a wide variety of professional development and personal interest courses and certificates. The following learning opportunity is for leaders wanting to Indigenize their workplace and build relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations:
Open Educational Resources
Pulling Together, a series of open educational resources, was developed by BCcampus and the Ministry of Advanced Education for those who work in or support post-secondary education. In addition to the Foundations Guide, a resource guide was developed for five target audiences:
Camosun College faculty and educational leaders supported the development of these resources through various ways described below:
Community Events
Camosun hosts various annual events that are open to the college community and guests.
- Orange Shirt Day
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Annual Pit Cook Demonstration
Indigenous Education & Community Connections - Events Calendar
Massive Open Online Courses
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offer the ability to learn online for free. MOOCs can have thousands of people enrolled. These MOOCs were developed by Indigenous faculty from Canadian universities.
Reconciliation through Indigenous Education (University of British Columbia)
This six week course supports professional and personal learning for advancing Indigenous priorities and reconciliation in community, education, and work contexts.
Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)
This 12 week course can be taken as an accredited or audited free online course. Delivered from an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
Aboriginal worldviews and education (University of Toronto)
This six week course is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners to explore the historical, social and political issues in Indigenous education and how Indigenous worldviews “can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education.”
