REGINA — This week marked the important milestone of 50 years for First Nations University of Canada.
A celebration event marking the occasion was held Wednesday at its Regina campus and live-streamed to simultaneous events happening at campuses in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Dignitaries, including Lt.-Gov. Bernadette McIntyre, were at the Regina event.
It has been a long journey for the post-secondary institution, which was founded on May 27, 1976, as Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.
It has since grown into a leading university focused on its role as an Indigenous educational institution.
Milton Tootoosis, SREDA’s chief economic reconciliation officer, was a student and then an employee at the institution during the 1980s. He said the university was a great place for a student looking for a small community atmosphere, being a smaller institution than the University of Saskatchewan or University of Regina.
“Many of us arrive at these institutions maybe not as confident or prepared as we should be because of our experiences in the K-12 system,” Tootoosis said.
“I experienced a lot of racism in high school, so it wasn't fun going to school at all. But coming here, it was very safe,” Tootoosis said.
“It was very welcoming, very warm and cultural. I didn't understand at the time, I was very young, but culturally relevant. It was a culturally safe space. And that's what guys like me needed in order to survive university life. Because it's very, it's hard. It's hard work. And when you're living in poverty on top of it, it's even more difficult.”
Jonathan Pasap, chief of White Bear First Nations, said as a graduate of the university in business administration, “I've been able to use that knowledge to perform well in the corporate world and take that knowledge and now become chief of my nation and provide help with our nation. So that's how this university has helped me and guided me.”
He pointed to student success, saying the university “has provided so much training and skills to help our people. And most importantly, it's our ancestors. They're going to be proud of all this university has accomplished. This was their vision, and we're seeing it happen. So that's what I think about today with this 50th anniversary.”
Jackie Ottmann, president of the First Nations University of Canada, said the story of the university was one of “resilience and strength and resolve and grit. And a number of people came together to help realize this institution.”
“And so, for me to be here today, to be president in the 50th year of this amazing institution is humbling. And the responsibility that we carry because we're living the dream. We're living what was envisioned by our ancestors even as far back as 1874, 1876, treaty time. And as I mentioned today, 1972 Indian Control of Indian Education — this is an example of that. This whole, the story of First Nations University of Canada is a story of reconciliation. And so that is, it's incredibly meaningful, not only for me, but for our entire community.”
As for where Ottmann sees the university in the next 50 years, she said there's a “growth to the university that is occurring right now. And there's a, I would say an awakening.”
She said what really differentiates them from other universities is “our focus on Indigenous knowledge systems, and that is our foundation.”
“And each student, each learner, learns their discipline not only with Western ways of knowing, being, and doing, but Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. So they graduate with what we're calling a twice-team approach. They've got an advantage. And so, I think in the next 50 years, the hope is that this university continues to thrive.”
One goal over the next 50 years is for the university to become fully autonomous, as right now it operates with a federation agreement with the University of Regina.
“But we will definitely maintain the relationship with the University of Regina. It's an important relationship for us to have.”
Ottmann said at their university, 90 per cent of the students are Indigenous and 70 per cent of the faculty are Indigenous as well.
She noted that their graduates “step into every sector of society, and all over the country. And they step into education sector, health sector, business sector, communication sector, fine arts. And with the advantage that they have by graduating from First Nations University, they could provide perspectives that are much needed within the workplace, within those decision making tables.”
Ottmann said their education is informed by the strength of their stories, their traditional teachings, but also through the work of their Indigenous faculty and the research that emerges from there.
“And so they are the solutions to many of the issues that we're experiencing in society. So our graduates are living reconciliation. And not only advocating, but by them being in those spaces wherever they are, they are willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly participating in reconciliation.”
