November 05, 2010
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New program brings Elders’ wisdom as a teaching tool
TERRACE – Northwest Community College (NWCC) has kicked off a unique program that brings Elders to College campuses in an effort to connect with students and enhance and complement existing resources available to them.
The Elders in Residence program was designed for students by the College’s House of Learning & Applied Research (HLAR), in consultation with Elders. The Elders will enhance the efforts of NWCC student services members, such as First Nations Access Coordinators, Educational Advisors, Learning Assistance Specialists, Accessibility Coordinators, Program Coordinators, and Campus Principals/Managers.
The initiative was launched and celebrated Oct. 20 with a chowder luncheon — cooked and served by Aboriginal culinary arts students and organized by NWCC Student Services. As part of an annual luncheon that brings together students and sponsors, it also gave a chance for Elders to meet them.
“I was so happy with the enthusiasm of the Elders when they said that this type of a program was long overdue and that they were happy to see visibility of our Aboriginal people in the College,” said Audrey Woods, NWCC Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge Development Specialist with HLAR.
Broadly, the program aims to have Elders: support Aboriginal learners to improve their educational achievement and success; to assist with the planning and delivery of cultural and social events; to help plan and acquire resources for cultural crafts workshops; to enhance opportunities for Aboriginal students to explore and learn about their heritage and the cultures of other Aboriginal groups in the NWCC region; to help further the use traditional language in the College environment; to assist with support and advisory services for staff and faculty with respect to Aboriginal inclusion in the college environment and curricula; to assist in organizing events that celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal culture at the College; and to assist with liaison services and support communication between the student, home, College and other organizations.
This month’s schedule is packed with opportunities for Terrace students as the program gathers momentum. The activities include Northwest Coast Art design workshops, several “Ts’iits and Ye’e” time slots for students to meet, socialize, talk to and listen to the wisdom of the Elders; workshops offering techniques for adding crest designs to a hoody, a Devil’s Club preparation for medicine workshop, a cedar rose making workshop, plus a Métis jigging dance performance and introduction to Métis culture and a Nisga’a song and drumming performance.
“The College, especially through the dedicated work from staff with the House of Learning & Applied Research, has made it a priority to embrace Aboriginal practices in teaching and learning,” said NWCC Interim President Cathay Sousa. “We have high hopes that the Elders in Residence program will be embraced by our students and become a fixture in the future at all our campuses.”
The Elders in Residence program is running at Prince Rupert and Terrace campuses, though other NWCC campuses will host one Elders gathering this month. The Terrace program wraps up Nov. 29 with local Elders role modelling a modified traditional feast at Waap Galts’ap. The Elders will host and serve guests and their feedback – and that of workshop instructors, student participants and the community at large – will be sought regarding the program’s effectiveness, possible improvements, what worked and what could be offered in the future.
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For more information contact:
Kristine Kofoed
Director of Communications and College Advancement Northwest Community College
Phone: 250.638.5470
Toll-Free: 1.877.277.2288
Email: kkofoed@nwcc.bc.ca
To learn more about the exciting events and programs happening at NWCC visit us at nwcc.bc.ca
Northwest Community College is an accredited post-secondary education institution that offers a range of comprehensive courses and programs to the northwest region of British Columbia. It serves this area through campuses in Haida Gwaii (Kaay Llnagaay, Masset, Village of Queen Charlotte), Hazelton, Houston, Kitimat, Nass Valley, Prince Rupert, Smithers and Terrace. NWCC celebrates the diversity of its northern and First Nations populations and reflects this diversity in its programs, services and workforce.
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