First IAESC video features inspirational words

The first information video representing the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council features insightful commentary by life-long Indigenous educators and Council board members. It’s being released as part of the IAESC website launch in the lead up to the first anniversary of the Indigenous Institutes Act receiving royal assent Dec. 14, 2017.

Produced by Regan Pictures with initial interviews conducted Sept. 26, 2018, the video is a compilation of short clips that capture the inspiration and purpose of the Council, Indigenous Institutes and education that is community-based.

Special thanks to Kenjgewin Teg, First Nations Technical Institute and Six Nations Polytechnic for sharing some of their photographs to help illustrate the learning environment provided by Indigenous Institutes as well as the students they serve.

Below are some of the quotes used in this first production, which can be viewed with this LINK:

Betty Katsitsiase Maracle, FNTI Cultural Advisor

“The power within each person’s gifts can help the universe heal. And the only way is through our own connection and understanding through a culture, Indigenous way of learning and understanding. And it’s time the lndigenous peoples have the opportunity to be valued and recognized for the knowledge we carry.”

“In 1972, there was a policy paper presented to the federal government. The messages in that paper are: ‘Here’s how we see education needing to go forward. This is what we need. This is how we want to work with government. This is what we want to see in our community,'” Robinson said, paraphrasing the main themes of the Indian Control of Indian Education document.

“That’s the moment we are at. The role of the Council is to support that very opportunity (for Indigenous Institutes) to develop their own programs, their own credentials … be it a diploma, a certificate, a degree … degrees at all levels … whatever it’s going to take to help advance Indigenous students and Indigenous communities … and to have their way, our way of education, being seen and recognized for what it is.”

A group shot of the Kenora group
Laurie during her video shoot
Laurie Robinson at Regan Pictures studio going over speaking notes with Dave Dale
Dan Longboat, former IAESC Quality Assessment Board member

“There’s a necessity to recognize the authority of Indigenous knowledge and in being able to create a different type of learning and a different type of process with the post secondary. It’s not just the things that are based within the community … it’s not just the things based within the culture and language, but it really brings those things to full fruition to recognize the authority of that knowledge.”

Laura Horton, IAESC Quality Assessment Board member

“When the Indigenous Institute Act was passed, and they had to put together the council and the quality assurance board, the cultural appropriateness of our Indigenous Institutes globally has been the guiding light … and doing things in a way respective of our teachings, to our elders, to our culture.”

Kali Storm, IAESC Quality Assessment Board member

“It’s the standard of the education system but it’s bringing in what’s been missing. If we start doing this and we do it as well as I think we are going to do it, I think it’s going to benefit the world.”

Delbert Horton, IAESC Board member

“I recall a time one of the young ladies in our community was talking about her education experience in a provincial school. ‘In that whole school year, I only felt good that one day about being in school,'” Horton said, quoting the student.

“She said the history teacher talked about the history and how Anishinabe people … had some positive things to say about Anishinabe people. “When I heard that, that made me feel, oh ya, that’s my people you’re talking about, and you’re talking about them in a good way,” he continued.

“So it was only one day of the year … So now, when we look at our Institutes in Ontario, the Institutes are offering more than one day.

“They are spending more time, you see the different programs where the students are being taught about who they are and how they fit in society, instilling that notion, that idea or that belief, ‘I am a proud Anishinabe person … and here’s why, I have my language, I have my stories,'” he said.

“That means a lot.”