John Abbott, Cree School Board partner on Iyeskuwiiu Springboard program

John Abbott College has partnered with the Cree School Board to give students the opportunity to take college-level courses online. The Iyeskuwiiu Springboard to Diploma of College Studies Program is designed so that students can start their postsecondary education while at home, reducing the impact of culture shock and systemic barriers. The program has 30 spaces for students from Eeyou Istchee, and students will complete 16 credits that can be transferred to any English-language cégep in the province. “The core of this program is really reinforcing the Cree identity and giving students an opportunity to go through an entire program where they can not only learn about their culture, but [also] have their own identity reinforced,” said Cree School Board director of adult education Nian Matoush. CBC Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.