Program at a glance
Credential
Advanced Certificate
Work experience
None
Study options
Part-time
Blended delivery
Open to International
Yes
Area of study
Length
2 years or 5 semesters
Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen
Applying Indigenous leadership in communities and organizations
The Ways of Indigenous Leadership and Learning (WILL) program empowers leaders, through a strength-based approach, to address internal capacity, growth, and development, and help ensure that organizations are accountable to your organizational mandate and goals. You'll develop the know-how to face opportunities, challenges and demands as you provide leadership to Indigenous communities and organizations.

Leadership enhances community connections
In the WILL program you will learn to integrate Indigenous cultural norms, approaches and ways of being and doing into your leadership of communities, organizations or agencies.
Bring Indigenous ways of being and doing into your work
Through blended learning, and a unique "across the waters" approach, which includes land-based, online and experiential learning, you will gain perspectives and skills within an interNational learning community made up of Indigenous learners and teachers in Canada, and with interNational partners across the globe.
The approaches, strategies and capacities acquired in WILL prepare working or emerging professionals, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to be successful in your positions of leadership. WILL highlights how connections with the natural world can support personal, community and organizational Indigenous self-determination.
After Graduation
As a graduate, you'll be prepared to support and enable Indigenous self-determination and development and lead change across public and private sectors.
What you'll learn
Current and future students can browse current and upcoming courses using the myCamosun course catalogue.
Program outline
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.
Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students and scholars
Through a blended online, applied-learning and on-the-land delivery model that follows a seasonal models of birth and rebirth, WILL highlights how connections with the natural world can support personal, community and organizational Indigenous self-determination. Item powers leaders to address internal capacity growth and development, and help ensure that organizations are accountable to their organizational mandate and goals and are realistic in their expectations.
This program emanates from IECC and relies heavily on knowledge obtained from intensive consultation with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students and scholars. The program is grounded in Indigenous knowledge and perspective and will be delivered in ways consistent with Indigenous teaching methods and methodologies.
Filling the need in community and organizations
The Advanced Certificate in Ways of Indigenous Leadership & Learning (WILL) program emerged from the recognition that professionals face particular opportunities, challenges and demands as they provide leadership to Indigenous communities and organizations. Moreover, as increasing numbers of organizations and institutions seek to work towards reconciliation processes, here and across the waters, it becomes more critical to provide training to Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals tasked with leading such processes. WILL is structured to facilitate current and future interNational partnerships.
The WILL program is a globally informed partnership between Ara Institute and Camosun College. The program addresses relational, cultural, and strategic elements of Indigenous leadership.
Tuition and fees
Effective from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023
Estimated Tuition
Tuition estimates are for the entire program.
Ways of Indigenous Leadership and Learning, Advanced Certificate
$14,200 (domestic)
*There will be additional costs for international travel
Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.
For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees.
Student Fees
In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to: Student Fees.
Financial Assistance
You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.
Curriculum & courses
Admissions
Apply now for Fall 2023!
When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the following admission requirements.
Tip: Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.
One of:
- C+ in English 12
- C in English 12 Camosun Alternative
And all of:
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution; and,
- Any accredited Indigenous studies or Indigenous language course from a recognized post-secondary institution.
Or - Special Permission: Applicants seeking approval for admissions will be expected to demonstrate through an interview with the IECC Executive Director or designate:
- A minimum of 2 years of formal leadership experience in an Indigenous community, organization or movement; and
- Knowledge of history, policy and social structures and practices that impact Indigenous peoples.
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.
Missing admission requirements?
Take an assessment or upgrade with us.
Contact us
If you have admissions questions contact us today!
If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in this program please contact indigenous@camosun.ca, 250-370-3299.
Faculty/staff profile

Todd Ormiston, Northern Tutchone/Tlingit
Chair, Indigenous Studies

Learn more
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.
Contact information
Indigenous Education & Community Connections
We want to hear from you!