Kwak’wala Immersion 1 (IFL-101), Kwak’wala Immersion 2 (IFL-102) and Pathways to Reconciliation and Social Action (IFL-111) will be offered through digital delivery this upcoming year.
Interested students can learn more during one of two online information sessions which will be held on July 15 and 16.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer these new courses through a new delivery model this fall, making them more accessible to students throughout the region,” said Kelly Shopland, NIC Director of Indigenous Education.
The Kwak’wala immersion courses draw on local Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing and being in an Indigenous language immersion setting. During the courses a wide variety of culturally relevant activities will be conducted through the lens of language to explore the essential relationship between Kwak'wala and identity, place (including land and sea), wellness, and social roles and responsibilities.
“The immersion courses are open to students who have never before studied Kwak’wala, or students who understand some Kwak’wala and want to learn more,” said Sara Child, NIC Indigenous Education Facilitator and developer of the Indigenous Language Fluency certificate.
The Pathways to Reconciliation and Social Action course will help students envision how Indigenous histories, perspectives, worldviews and approaches to learning must be considered in the work we do in our classrooms, organizations and communities to advance reconciliation and the Calls to Action.
“There’s a growing interest from people who want to better understand the history of Indigenous people and how to actively participate and contribute to reconciliation,” said Child. “We hope that offering this course digitally, will open it up not just to students interested in our certificate, but anyone who works with Indigenous communities.”
Students can also reach out to NIC’s Indigenous Education Advisors for more information at indigenousadvising@nic.bc.ca.
Registration for the three courses is open now. Students can apply through NIC’s University Studies program.
