Lakehead U to require indigenous education
Undergrad programs will require half-credit class
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. will require starting fall 2016 that all undergraduate students take a half-credit class in indigenous education.
While some of Lakehead's faculties already include a similar requirement, students from all faculties will have to take a class about indigenous cultures and issues related to their area of study.
Such classes might not seem relevant to engineering students, for example, but engineers have to work in communities across the country, including in indigenous communities, said Lakehead associate professor Peggy Smith.
Smith was part of the committee involved in integrating indigenous content into the school's curriculum.
She says there are advantages in every discipline to learn about indigenous cultures and issues.
“Not only generally should students understand more about Canadian history and the relationship with Indigenous Peoples, but a lot of people might be working that situation once they graduate, and they should have a better understanding of how those communities function,” she said.
Smith points out that the Canadian Constitution recognizes aboriginal and treaty rights.
“It's the highest law of the land,” she said. “It's the document that gives us the guidelines for how we're going to live together.”
“We feel that everyone living in Canada should be meeting that obligation, and one way to do that is to learn more about this relationship with Indigenous Peoples.”
The requirement request came from Lakehead's Ogimaawin- Aboriginal Governance Council, whose mandate is to increase access for indigenous students in Ontario's post-secondary institutions.
Lakehead's university-wide strategic plan includes commitments to indigenous learners, improving indigenous community engagement and social justice.
The requirement was included in the universities' academic plan, which was finalized in 2012.
“Lakehead University should be proud of the initiative,” Smith said. “I think that most Canadians would agree that we are sorely uneducated about the relationship between regular Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. Bringing more content into the curriculum is important at all levels in our schools.”
The city of Thunder Bay is surrounded by a number of indigenous communities.
So is London — there are at least 10 communities within 100 km of the city.
“That's awesome,” Kevin Lamure, manager of Fanshawe's First Nations Centre said about Lakehead's requirement.
He says it wouldn't be complicated for Fanshawe to implement a similar requirement.
“I would love to see that happen here.”
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. will require starting fall 2016 that all undergraduate students take a half-credit class in indigenous education.
While some of Lakehead's faculties already include a similar requirement, students from all faculties will have to take a class about indigenous cultures and issues related to their area of study.
Such classes might not seem relevant to engineering students, for example, but engineers have to work in communities across the country, including in indigenous communities, said Lakehead associate professor Peggy Smith.
Smith was part of the committee involved in integrating indigenous content into the school's curriculum.
She says there are advantages in every discipline to learn about indigenous cultures and issues.
“Not only generally should students understand more about Canadian history and the relationship with Indigenous Peoples, but a lot of people might be working that situation once they graduate, and they should have a better understanding of how those communities function,” she said.
Smith points out that the Canadian Constitution recognizes aboriginal and treaty rights.
“It's the highest law of the land,” she said. “It's the document that gives us the guidelines for how we're going to live together.”
“We feel that everyone living in Canada should be meeting that obligation, and one way to do that is to learn more about this relationship with Indigenous Peoples.”
The requirement request came from Lakehead's Ogimaawin- Aboriginal Governance Council, whose mandate is to increase access for indigenous students in Ontario's post-secondary institutions.
Lakehead's university-wide strategic plan includes commitments to indigenous learners, improving indigenous community engagement and social justice.
The requirement was included in the universities' academic plan, which was finalized in 2012.
“Lakehead University should be proud of the initiative,” Smith said. “I think that most Canadians would agree that we are sorely uneducated about the relationship between regular Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. Bringing more content into the curriculum is important at all levels in our schools.”
The city of Thunder Bay is surrounded by a number of indigenous communities.
So is London — there are at least 10 communities within 100 km of the city.
“That's awesome,” Kevin Lamure, manager of Fanshawe's First Nations Centre said about Lakehead's requirement.
He says it wouldn't be complicated for Fanshawe to implement a similar requirement.
“I would love to see that happen here.”
