December 8, 2021 – Kenjgewin Teg, an Indigenous-led educational institute located on M’Chigeeng First Nation, on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island), and Queen’s University have a long-established history in partnership with the university’s community-based Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP, formerly known as ATEP). Beginning January 2022, this partnership will be expanding into a new and innovative direction together, with a pilot program for students enrolled at Queen’s University to learn about Indigenous people, customs, and culture directly from an Indigenous Institute.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Queen’s on this important work to expand access to Indigenous studies courses,” says Stephanie Roy, President of Kenjgewin Teg. “The new courses will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their awareness of Indigenous perspectives on a diverse range of subjects — from climate change, the connection between language and identity, and the arts. Building awareness of the perspectives and knowledge of Indigenous peoples is a key part of the reconciliation process.”
The new courses will also add to the breadth and depth of Queen’s existing Indigenous studies academic offerings. The new courses will be offered by remote instruction through Queen’s Faculty of Arts and Science from January to April 2022 as part of the one-term pilot agreement. The courses will focus on Indigenous perspectives on climate change and sustainability practices related to water, Indigenous theatre and performance, and the significance of language in relation to collective and individual identity. Kenjgewin Teg and Queen’s will collaborate on the recruitment and selection of Indigenous faculty members to teach the courses.
“This new collaboration with Kenjgewin Teg adds to the long history of partnership between both institutions,” says Kanonhsyonne Janice Hill, Associate Vice-Principal (Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation). “I’m so pleased we are combining our expertise in Indigenous studies with that of Kenjgewin Teg to provide these new courses to students, allowing them to grow their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and experiences.”
Kenjgewin Teg is currently expanding its higher education learning and partnership delivery opportunities in Indigenous Studies with current and new partners.
Kenjgewin Teg is located on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island, ON). It is a recognized Indigenous Institute in Ontario’s Indigenous Institute Act (2017), providing Indigenous culturally relevant community-based access and lifelong learning for adult post-secondary students.
Queen’s University is situated on the territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek. Home to more than 25,000 students, the university offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment. Queen’s University and Kenjgewin Teg have enjoyed two decades of committed and now an expanded partnership relationship.
For more information on this announcement, please contact:
Beverley Roy, Director of Quality Assurance
Office location: M’Chigeeng, ON (Manitoulin Island)
Email: beverleyroy@kenjgewinteg.ca
www.kenjgewinteg.ca
