Academics at the University of Saskatchewan discussed the role of Indigenous Studies programs Friday morning.
The panel discussion, led by Indigenous Studies professors Winona Wheeler and Priscilla Settee, was part of the Think Indigenous Education Conference.
Much of the discussion focused on how to Indigenize the academy.
Wheeler, who is also the department head, says a number of university administrations are moving to incorporate Aboriginal content into the curriculum but it is all too often being done in a top-down manner.
“Universities have a tendency to make decisions top-down and there’s not enough consultation and there’s not enough collaboration,” she says.
Settee also says if the U of S truly wants to embrace Indigenization, the institution needs to put its money where its mouth is.
“We have a university that’s committed one-quarter of its pillars to Indigenous issues but at the same time we see more and more cutbacks that impact our ability to teach effectively,” she says.
Thursday night’s dinner focused on the Northern, Indian and Saskatchewan Urban Native teacher education programs.
The keynote speaker was College of Education professor Verna St. Denis.
She says enrolling in ITEP in the late 70’s changed her life.
“For me, it was a place where I was acknowledged as a learner, it was a positive learning environment and a place where I was encouraged to do the best I could,” she says.
St. Denis also says the education program provided her the opportunity to grow as both an individual and teacher.
“If I had gone into just the regular (Bachelor of Education) program I’m not sure that I would have been acknowledged as a capable student. I’m not sure that my voice would have been nurtured to the degree that it was.”
As part of last night’s event, distinguished alumni awards were presented for ITEP, NORTEP and SUNTEP.
Thunderchild First Nation Chief Delbert Wapass was the recipient of the ITEP award, Sue Carriere the NORTEP award and Angie Caron the SUNTEP award.
The two-day conference was scheduled to wrap up on Friday evening with a round dance at Oskayak High School.