Detail

Executive Summary

What types of educational programming do Indigenous communities want postsecondary institutions to offer? And how can postsecondary institutions support Indigenous learners? Lakehead University’s School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism sought to answer these questions through a special project that was supported by ONCAT funding.

Led by Professors Leigh Potvin and Julie Rosenthal and Indigenous Curriculum Specialist Joseph Duncan — a member of Muskrat Dam First Nation — the project team collaborated with a committee of community members from territorial and social organizations to receive guidance on the needs of their communities and how to prepare learners for careers in outdoor parks, recreation and tourism.

Cultivating land-based practices and community connections at a two-day moose hide tanning camp and developing a micro-credential in risk management are just two of the offshoots that grew from the committee's guidance. In the future, the team plans to develop more flexible degree structures for Indigenous learners through a variety of pathways with colleges and Indigenous Institutes.

What you will learn from this presentation:

• how Lakehead University’s School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Tourism consulted with Indigenous community members to understand their needs and desires for land-based education, credentials and support accessing the program
• what the team learned from collaborating and developing relationships with Indigenous community members and knowledge holders
• what new learners have said about their experiences in these programs
• how some of the new programming (e.g., micro-credentials) is structured

View the recording of this Connect and Learn. You can also view the presentation deck below.