BCcampus’ Indigenization Professional Learning Series

One of the goals of BCcampus’ Indigenization Project was to support the co-creation of a professional learning series that support faculty and staff with the incorporation of Indigenous epistemologies into professional practice.

Post by Michelle Glubke, Senior Manager, Collaborative Projects

To help achieve this goal and ensure we are aligned with the communities we are committed to supporting, a Steering Committee was formed to include the perspectives, knowledge, and voices of Indigenous education leaders from B.C. universities, colleges, institutes, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association, and Métis Nation BC.

This collaboration between BCcampus, the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, the project’s Steering Committee, and a large community of Indigenous and ally writers, resulted in a series of open educational resources (OER) to support post-secondary institutions as they continue the transformative work of decolonization, reconciliation and Indigenization.

Knowledge sharing

We are proud to present Pulling Together: A Guide for Indigenization of Post-Secondary Education Institutions. This series includes the guides Foundations, Teachers and Instructors, Front-Line Staff, Student Services, and Advisors, Leaders and Administrators, Curriculum Developers, and Researchers. These OER can be adapted to allow for localization and can be read online or downloaded in a variety of formats, such as Print PDF, Digital PDF, xHTML, WordPress XML, EPUB, and MOBI – offering instruction and best practices for the post-secondary institutions of B.C. The guides are intended to be living resources that augment existing training currently offered through the institutions, recognizing that place-based Indigenous knowledge, languages, and practices are reflected in the localized delivery of Indigenized learning resources. Also available are the Métis Bibliography for the guides and additional resources created during the Project.

“Including the perspectives, knowledge, and voices of Indigenous peoples in post-secondary education is part of this government’s commitment to implementing the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Faculty, staff, and students at post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. will benefit from the Pulling Together guides as they deepen their understanding of decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation.” – Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

The guides are currently available and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International License.

With gratitude

For her focused and collaborative management of the project and the care with which she held the knowledge and contributions of our project community members:

Dianne Biin (Camosun College)

For their guidance, support, and generosity, we thank the Steering Committee members:

Verna Billy Minnabarriet (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association)
Jo Chrona (First Nations Education Steering Committee)
Marlene Erickson (College of New Caledonia, BCAPSC)
Jan Hare (University of British Columbia)
Colleen Hodgson (Métis Nation BC)
Deb Hull (Co-chair, Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training)
Janice Simcoe (Co-chair, Camosun College, I-LEAD)
Kory Wilson (British Columbia Institute of Technology)

The content in these guides is authored by teams of Indigenous and ally writers from 14 B.C. institutions. For sharing their knowledge and wisdom with others, we thank:

Foundations

Kory Wilson (British Columbia Institute of Technology)

Leaders and administrators

Sybil Harrison (Camosun College)
Janice Simcoe (Camosun College)
Dawn Smith (Camosun College)
Jennifer Stein (Camosun College)

Front-line staff, student services and advisors

Ian Cull (University of British Columbia Okanagan)
Rob L.A. Hancock (University of Victoria)
Stephanie McKeown (University of British Columbia Okanagan)
Michelle Pidgeon (Simon Fraser University)
Adrienne Vedan (University of British Columbia Okanagan)

Teachers and instructors

Bruce Allan (College of New Caledonia)
Dianne Biin (BCcampus, Camosun College)
John Chenowith (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology)
Shirley Anne Hardman (University of the Fraser Valley)
Sharon Hobenshield (Vancouver Island University)
Louise Lacerte (Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association)
Todd Ormiston (Camosun College)
Amy Perrault (University of British Columbia)
Justin Wilson (Langara College)
Lucas Wright (BCcampus, University of British Columbia)

Curriculum developers

Asma-na-hi Antoine (Royal Roads University)
Rachel Mason (Arrive Consulting)
Roberta Mason (Royal Roads University)
Sophia Palahicky (Royal Roads University)
Carmen Rodriquez de France (University of Victoria)

Researchers

Dianne Biin (BCcampus, Camosun College)
Deborah Canada (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology)
John Chenowith (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology)
Lou-ann Neel (Lou-ann Neel Studio)

Métis Bibliography for Indigenization guides

Jeannie Carrière (University of Victoria)
Colleen Hodgson (Métis Nation BC)
Shelley LaFrance (MSW student, University of Victoria)

BCcampus staff

Dianne Biin, Project Manager and Content Developer
Michelle Glubke, Senior Manager Collaborative Projects
Josie Gray, Coordinator of Collection Quality
Lucas Wright, Open Education Advisor

Principal editors

Barbara Johnston, West Coast Editorial Associates
Merrie-Ellen Wilcox, West Coast Editorial Associates

Notable quote:

“It’s really exciting to see how this project has taken shape. There is still so much uncertainty about what Indigenization is and fear of ‘doing things wrong.’ This resource provides information for all sectors of post-secondary institutions which provides clear guidelines on how to begin Indigenizing the institution in a way that honours truth and reconciliation.

Most importantly, it was developed by Indigenous people and reflects our voices and our aspirations for a post-secondary system that is inclusive and relevant to our communities” – Marlene Erickson, College of New Caledonia, BCAPSC

Learn more:

To view additional resources created during the project, such as the environmental scan, audience profiles, process documents and Métis bibliography, please visit the BCcampus open repository.