The University of Saskatchewan and the Kahkewistahaw First Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding to allow its First Nation members to earn an education degree.
“What it does for the First Nations communities is — allows people that are not able to move into Regina and move into Saskatoon to do their Bachelor of Education in the community with face-to-face instruction,” said Chris Scribe, the director of the Indian Teacher Education Program.
The MOU was signed Friday at the Kahkewistahaw Powwow celebrations. The degree program is for four years and will be offered to members of surrounding communities.
“It offers an opportunity for community members to really go forward and become difference makers in the classroom, when they wouldn’t necessarily have that opportunity if it was only offered in urban centres,” Scribe explained.
Scribe says the program will be taught Fridays at the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, with enrollment still accepting applications.
“We need our people in those positions to really help and shift the dynamics of our province and really make it a beautiful place,” Scribe said.
(PHOTO: Kahkewistahaw First Nation banner. Courtesy of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Facebook.)