New college in Northern Quebec offers culturally rooted education for Cree students
Eeyou Istchee College of Science and Technology in Chisasibi bringing higher education closer to home
A new post-secondary institution, the Eeyou Istchee College of Science and Technology, has opened in Northern Quebec, aiming to provide accessible education for Cree students and working professionals.
Located in the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, this is the first college in Eeyou Istchee to blend Cree language and tradition with western learning. Community members and staff gathered to celebrate its launch at the Mitchuap building on June 16.
"We blend in the Cree knowledge as well as the Western knowledge. Being able to merge the best of the two worlds for teaching, learning within our operational practices," said Carmen Scilia, the director general for the college.
The college offers professional development programs tailored to adult learners, along with courses that allow students to accumulate credits toward other post-secondary institutions.
"What's really important is that in the program, the way that we are going to be delivering the programs, it is really a two-eyed seeing approach," Scilia said.
For Shannon Fireman, Chisasibi's youth chief, the college provides an opportunity to pursue higher education without leaving the community, all while reconnecting with Cree language and identity.
"It's great that they're blending them together, because some of us are losing our language. They get to keep up their classes and learn our language," Fireman said.
At the college's opening event, Fireman emphasized the importance of local access to education and encouraged youth to continue their studies.
The college offers language certificates in English, French, and East Cree, including in syllabics and oral communication courses.
"It'll open up a lot of doors for them, for their future. Cree students usually go to the South to pursue their higher education, they face a lot of culture shock and some of them get homesick," Fireman added.
As a current student in the college's professional practice certificate program, Fireman said the courses have supported her leadership role and personal growth.
She said courses in accounting, managing client relations, and digital literacy have been especially useful in her duties as youth chief.
The college is also focused on supporting adult learners who are already employed, offering flexible professional development programs. Scilia said about 70 students are currently enrolled in professional development.
Support from the Cree National Youth Council, Cree Board of Health and Social Services and local bands help subsidize students' tuition along with Future Skills Canada, a federal funding program that helps students earn certificates while continuing to work, which contributed $450,000 to the college.
Apatisiiwin Skills Development helped fund the college's creation and cover employees salaries.
Looking ahead, the college is working toward securing a permit that would allow its credit courses to be recognized by other institutions.
"The community is actually the college, we have classrooms, land-based learning, sports centres. So everything is already in the community," Scilia explained.
While classes currently take place online and at the Mitchwuap building, expansion plans are underway. Renovations to create more learning spaces are set to begin in September.
"What we're going to do is we're going to leverage all of what exists in order to provide the education," said Scilia.
Financial accessibility is also a priority. The college plans to collaborate with funding partners to reduce or eliminate costs for students.
"We will work with Cree School Board and other funding establishments to make sure that we remove financial barriers for students so they can attend classes without having to worry," said Scilia.
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with files from Terrence Duff
