Academic Calendar 2023-2024 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Academic Calendar 2023-2024

Indigenous Community Wellness (Certificate)


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Total Credits:    36
Credential:   Certificate in Indigenous Community Wellness                                                     
Program Code:   ICW.CERT
CIP:   05.9999

Overview

The Indigenous Community Wellness (ICW) program prepares Indigenous students to support Indigenous people within agencies and community organizations that serve Indigenous peoples. Students learn to effectively build relationships and walk in wellness with service users to support their access to, and engagement with programs and services. The ICW program is informed by diverse cultural and community specific frameworks that will prepare graduates to be culturally aware, active and positive role-models. The program weaves trauma-informed and healing-centred practices into personal and collective wellness.

Students will develop approaches that draw upon and use both Indigenous and western ways of knowing, and various types of services to advocate for and promote wellness. Students will learn to advance the work of decolonization while honouring the integrity and values of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Students will further deepen their awareness of their own cultural identity through access to traditional teachings and land-based learning with Old Ones and Knowledge Keepers.

Admissions


One of:

And all of:

  • Students who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit).

Learning Outcomes


At the completion of the program students will be able to:

  • Integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and being, as well as a trauma-informed and healing-centred perspectives, into their community service and professional practice.
  • Draw on their understanding of how colonization has impacted individuals, families and communities to inform their practice.
  • Demonstrate personal wellness, self-awareness, generosity, reciprocity and kindness while maintaining ethical, professional boundaries.
  • Communicate respectfully and effectively in interactions with individuals and communities.
  • Connect and build relationships with Old Ones and Knowledge Keepers in local Indigenous communities, as well as with staff at agencies who provide services to Indigenous people.
  • Apply strategies and forms of advocacy to support community wellness and self-determined goals, and to support individuals’ and communities’ ability to engage with and access programs and services.
  • Apply wholistic and diverse Indigenous approaches to individual and community wellness and healing, as well as relevant western methods.
  • Facilitate groups effectively and respectfully, using culturally relevant protocols.

Curriculum