The Government of British Columbia, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, and the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association are working together to increase the number of First Nations teachers in the province. As part of this initiative, three First Nations have received financial support from BC to partner with postsecondary institutions on educational programs: The Stz’uminus Education Society and Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation have each partnered with the University of Victoria to launch a language revitalization certificate program that ladders into a diploma and Bachelor of Education degree; while Bonaparte First Nation, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, and the University of British Columbia will offer a third-year entry BEd program. In addition to these programs, BC has distributed funds to support the exploration and development of teacher-education programs. “When community sees themselves within the education system, graduation rates increase,” explained BC Minister of Post-secondary Education and Future Skills Jessie Sunner. BC has allocated $5.4M over two years to support these initiatives.
