February 7, 2024

The Government of Canada, Government of Quebec, and the City of Trois-Rivières recently celebrated the official opening of the Waska Witcihitowin community living environment. Waska Witcihitowin is an affordable housing development with 42 housing units that was conceived by and for Indigenous people. The units will be made available to Indigenous people who are pursuing postsecondary education or adult training while living with their families. The environment includes a childcare centre, a junior kindergarten classroom, collaborative workspaces, shared kitchens, and outdoor areas for cultural activities, and Centre d’amitié autochtone de Trois-Rivières offices. The project has received a 20-year tax exemption from the City of Trois-Rivières.

Chief Payepot School has unveiled new vending machines that will dispense Indigenous literature. The school previously had to close its library to increase classroom space as enrolments increased, and Principal Nicole Crowe said that the vending machines will be a new way for the school to promote literacy and the love of reading. The vending machines will focus on Indigenous authors and stories and will use special coins given to students to celebrate milestones. At an unveiling event, Indigenous author Heather O’Watch was present to see her book “Auntie’s Rez Surprise” be the first book to be dispensed from the machines and to give a reading from the book. “I know the community, but specifically the school, doesn’t necessarily have accessibility to books,” said O’Watch. “It’s a very special moment for the partners but also for the community.”

In a recent article for The Conversation, Tamika Worrell (Macquarie University) discusses the problems associated with using artificial intelligence (AI) to incorporate Australian Indigenous perspectives and content into the classroom. Following a recent Australian government directive to incorporate Indigenous content into the classroom, Worrell writes that some teachers may be tempted to use generative AI to quickly “check the box.” However, Indigenous people have raised several concerns around generative AI, such as the software’s foundation on western knowledge and concerns related to Indigenous data sovereignty. Additionally, generative AI can perpetuate misinformation and—as in the case of images—make it easy to generate “Indigenous-style” artwork, threatening Indigenous peoples’ art and cultural knowledges. The author asserts that teachers who use generative AI carelessly risk spreading misinformation and inaccuracies instead of authentically engaging with Indigenous knowledge.

Eabametoong First Nation has lost its only school after a fire razed the John C Yesno Education Centre. Nishnawbe Aski Police Service responded to a call about a structural fire at the centre on January 25 and arrived to find the school engulfed in flames. Officers determined that the blaze was consistent with arson: Four suspects under the age of 18 were identified as connected with the incident and are facing a series of charges. The charges include Arson with Disregard for Human Life, Arson causing Damage to Property, Mischief Over $5,000, and Possession of Incendiary Material. One of the suspects has also been charged with Possession of Break-In Instruments and Assaulting a Peace Officer.

The Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation Board of Directors has approved $12M in funding to support Nunavut Inuit who are pursuing training and postsecondary education. A new policy will direct $5M to initiatives that support Inuit student academic success. The board also approved $1M for the Makigiaqta Post-Secondary Education Funding Program, which boosts engagement, funding, and support for Inuit individuals who have been accepted into postsecondary training. “It is inspiring to see so many Inuit students advancing their knowledge and skills in post-secondary institutions, and I am so pleased that we are able to support them in reaching their goals,” said NTI President and Makigiaqta Chair Aluki Kotierk.

Students at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) recently got a hands-on chance to learn about Indigenous dance during their gym classes. Students learned about dance from knowledge keeper Victoria Frank, and local dancers Loghan Archie and Mason Salter demonstrated dances for the students. After the demonstrations, students were invited to try dance moves and participate in a friendship circle dance. PSO Indigenous support worker Angel Smith said she felt that it was important for students to get to try out the dances. “In this case we’re kind of teaching them so [they] know they can participate and learn (as well),” said Smith. “They’ve been very receptive and attentive, which is great.” Smith noted that she also wants to implement more “teaching classes” that allow students to participate in activities such as hand drum building.

The University College of the North and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law will soon offer a Pre-Law program that is designed for Indigenous and northern students who are interested in pursuing law school. This programming was developed through a partnership between UManitoba Law, the Northern Bar Association, the Law Society of Manitoba, Legal Aid Manitoba, and MB Provincial Court Judge Todd Rambow. The Pre-Law program covers the competencies needed to begin law school. Students will also have access to enhanced advising, student counselling, mentorships, and coaching supports and will be prepared to take the Law School Admission Test. “Providing students with opportunities to complete Pre-Law in northern Manitoba will help address shortages in the legal profession in the north,” said UCN President Doug Lauvstad.

Sweetgrass First Nation will break ground on a school that will accommodate students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The school will offer both daycare and Head Start at facilities attached to the school. The building—which will be outfitted with solar panels—will have rooms for Cree language and science classes and an elder’s room. Administrators are working towards the development of land-based programming that can be offered alongside language and culture education. “It’ll be its own unique program, but the high school students will still be able to get at least four credits from there that are recognized by the provincial curriculum,” said Lamarr Oksasikewiyin, who holds Sweetgrass’s education portfolio. “The fact that we could do that program with our resources here in Sweetgrass… it’s a big deal for us.”

A research proposal that was written in the Cree language nêhiyawewin by researchers from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The proposal—which previously faced roadblocks—was submitted a second time and evaluated by Indigenous scholars who are fluent in Cree. The research team prepared an oral recording of the proposal for reviewers who felt uncomfortable with Roman Orthography. “As the first Cree-language application to undergo merit review, as we move forward in our support of Indigenous research, pilot projects such as this will be invaluable in exploring new ways of strengthening Indigenous research capacity in Canada,” said SSHRC President Ted Hewitt.

Royal Roads University has launched the Emerging Indigenous Scholars Circle, which will provide Indigenous scholars who are beginning their academic careers with support. The Circle includes three emerging scholars who will receive guidance and mentorship from Circle chair Shauneen Pete. Pete has developed the Igniting the Flame webinar series—which will provide Indigenous scholars a place to listen to the experiences of others and learn from them—to support Indigenous scholars across Canada. “Only 1.4 per cent of all faculty [in Canada] are Indigenous people and … people are not feeling safe in order to self-identify, so some of them just don’t,” said Pete. “And for those that are self-identifying, their experiences are related to not just racism in the university, but also to embedded colonialism.” Pete hopes that the webinar series will help emerging Indigenous scholars define their purpose, advance their careers, and recognize when they are being overburdened.