News Archives: GPRC signs Indigenous Education Protocol
Thursday, January 26th, 2017
GRANDE PRAIRIE – Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) staff, faculty and students signed an Indigenous Education Protocol today that continues to build on GPRC’s already strong commitment to Indigenous students and communities in northwestern Alberta.
The protocol is one part of GPRC’s response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations that identified the need for post-secondary education institutions to play a leadership role to improve educational opportunities and success rates for Indigenous students.
“GPRC is already a leader in responding to the needs of our Indigenous students,” says Don Gnatiuk, GPRC President and CEO. “Signing this education protocol with our students continues this work and is a visible commitment from GPRC to continue to meet the needs of our Indigenous students and communities to achieve their cultural and educational goals.”
GPRC is the first college in Canada to have an on-campus Friendship Centre, the College’s Elder in Residence program ensures GPRC Indigenous students stay connected to their traditional teachings and culture and GPRC’s Indigenous education programs continue to grow with our Native Studies courses that are available to all student and our Aboriginal Administration program. In addition, GPRC has an Aboriginal Liaison Worker and an engaged and involved Circle of Indigenous Students group, says Gnatiuk.
The College’s national association, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICAN), developed the draft education protocol for colleges across Canada to use to reaffirm their commitment to Indigenous Education. GPRC staff and faculty worked closely with the College’s Circle of Indigenous Students for the past year to finalize the final protocol for GPRC’s Indigenous students and communities.
“This protocol outlines how the college will continue to embed Indigenous knowledge, culture and teachings throughout GPRC, not just for the benefit of Indigenous students and communities but for the benefit all GPRC students and communities in northwestern Alberta,” said Lori Blum, president of the Circle of Indigenous Students. “This will directly contribute to the success of all students and communities.”
The protocol can be viewed on GPRC’s website at gprc.me/indigenouseducationprotocol .
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in post-secondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information, visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans
GPRC
Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-539-2951