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Confederation College is revamping its Native Child and Family Services program.
The course will now be known as Onajigawin Indigenous Services, a word meaning “being prepared for the work that you will be doing as a helper”
School President Kathleen Lynch says the modifications will focus on local community needs and will strengthen partnerships in area municipalities.
Lynch says the change follows extensive consultations across the northwest and stresses the program will greatly benefit students.
The changes were made with help from Elder Sam Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation, who says it’s important that youth are learning more about the Indigenous community.
“I think young people are waking up, they want to learn about our culture, they want to learn about our history, and I think that’s good. Old people like me are getting up there in years and I think it’s time to step aside and let the young people run with it now. If you want to know where you’re going you need to know where you’ve been, and why things are the way they are to make changes.”
Professor and Coordinator of the new course Pam Burton says, “We have a dark history in Canada, and we need to acknowledge it and recognize it and then when we do that then we can start talking about ‘what is reconciliation.'”
The new program has a strong focus on decolonization and will provide students with the skills needed to be effective helpers in various sectors.
The first class for this program will be welcomed in Fall 2021.
(With files from Vasilios Bellos: Thunder Bay)
