Education

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018 7 RED RIVER PARTNERING WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES Red River College is currently enhancing and improving its Indigenous programming, and removing barriers to student success — a process being led by Rebecca Chartrand, Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy at Manitoba's largest college. Chartrand and her team are overseeing the launch of five new programs this fall, including a one-year Indigenous language certificate in Ojibway (Cree is being added next year), a two-year program in social enterprise, a 10-month course in culinary skills that includes a four-month paid co-op position, an ACCESS pathway to health programs and an ACCESS pathway to engineering. "We want to increase Indigenous student achievement at the College. We believe that establishing strong working relationships with Indigenous communities and industry will help create even more pathways to post-secondary education for learners. As Manitoba's largest institute of applied learning, we are committed to providing the skills and knowledge students need to apply their learning to life situations and, ultimately, thrive in their careers," said Chartrand. On the academic side, Red River College is hiring two Academic Coaches to prov ide assessment and tutoring suppor ts in addition to hiring two Nav igators to assist students with non- academic suppor ts that could prove most valuable in the long r un. For example, the Nav igator will assist with tasks like setting up a bank account, taking the bus and finding a n apar tment — tasks unfamiliar for some students who come from r ural, remote and isolated communities. The College is also hiring a Tr uth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement Manager. This person will work with Char trand to create a plan that responds to the 94 Calls to Action of the Tr uth and Reconciliation Commission, while taking into account goals outlined in the Manitoba Indigenous Blueprint, the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord and the Manitoba Treaty Relations Commission. "Wellness is equally important as academic success for our students. We recognize intergenerational trauma interrupts learning, therefore our supports must look beyond academic success. We want our students to be well as much as we want them to be academically successful," said Chartrand. For example, the College opened a sweat lodge to build on the cultural teachings like sharing circles, drumming sessions and pipe sessions held by the Elders in Residence of the College. "We want to ensure that the wraparound supports are in place for students from the time they start to think about coming to the College. In the past, the supports often did not exist until they were registered in a program," said Chartrand. "We will conduct assessments of students' competencies in math, reading comprehension and writing, so that we can determine student readiness for the program, and more importantly that they will be successful." Red River College is increasing its number of fulltime staff positions in order to deliver the programming. In fact, 10 new jobs were posted in the last couple of weeks. As an Anishinaabe Métis from the Pine Creek First Nation near Dauphin, Chartrand knows of what she speaks. She also has no problem being the poster child for what she's trying to accomplish with others. "I've worked in education for more than 20 years. I understand the challenges students are coming with from the kindergarten to Grade 12 system, and the First Nations and Métis communities where they've been underfunded and not always receiving the same education (as non-Indigenous students). I've lived this," she said. The type of training Red River College provides is determined by the communities themselves, said Darlene Bouvier, the College's Regional Campus Manager for the Interlake and Peguis Fisher River campuses. Strategic councils and advisory groups regularly consult with community leaders and industry to determine the most pressing needs. "We can deliver training from many different program areas — from business to health-care aide to educational assistant," she said. Bouvier also oversees mobile training labs (MTLs) in her region, which provide training on trades such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry and welding. "The College has two mobile labs, and each opens up to provide 1,000 square feet of training space. We can go to remote communities as long as the roads are viable for us to travel there," she said. "Earlier this year we delivered a plumbing certificate program in Sagkeeng First Nation for 12 students, and this fall we will be offering Intro to Trades programs in Ashern and Steinbach. "Our focus is on what areas of work or education will relate directly to employment. We have had huge success and the wheels keep turning so to speak. New programs are always being added, and this means more students and communities will continue to benefit from this innovative method of training. We are very proud of the work we are doing," said Bouvier. For more information, visit rrc.ca. ❚ RED RIVER COLLEGE By Geoff Kirbyson for the Free Press Considering the long history of Indigenous people in Manitoba, and the fact they're the fastest-growing segment of the province's population, it only makes sense that a post-secondary institution's key priority would be to provide more supports and pathways to education for aspiring Indigenous learners. Red River College is enhancing and improving its Indigenous programming. Supplied photos

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