Articles tagged "Indigenization"
OC Indigenous Community Support Worker grad reflects on making a difference
March 31, 2021
Upcoming info sessions spotlight learning and career opportunities for studentsShannon Peltier was inspired to train to provide support to Indigenous youth and families by her Nohkom (grandmother). She found that opportunity through the Indigenous Community Support Worker Certificate program at AV.The Indigenous Community Support Worker (ACSW) program is just one of the College's Continuing Studies certificate programs on display during info sessions this spring. The virtual sessions are designed to provide students with the o...
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Indigenous Awards drives support for OC students
February 24, 2021
Kamloops’ Austin MacArthur moved to Kelowna to attend AV’s Automotive Service Technician program to unlock a lifelong dream of becoming a mechanic – a dream fueled in part by the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society’s Indigenous Student awards. MacArthur is one of over 600 BC Indigenous students who shared more than $2.2 million in awards from the Society in support of post-secondary studies. The Society’s Indigenous Award program is one of six award programs and was created to assist in removing barriers to higher educati...
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OC’s 12th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow goes virtual this year
September 29, 2020
When the pandemic struck, organizers of the popular Youth Exhibition Powwow at AV in Kelowna knew they would have to adapt. Each year, for the past 11 years, the event has drawn crowds of hundreds – sometimes more than a thousand – to OC’s courtyard for a day of celebrating, learning about and engaging with Indigenous knowledge and culture. Over the course of a fun-filled day, dancers and accompanying drummers from across the B.C. interior perform in a variety of dance categories including grass, fancy, chicken, jingle and t...
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New members of OC Board
September 28, 2020
Two new area residents have been appointed to AV’s Board of Governors. Andrea Alexander, a Councillor with the Westbank First Nation, and JoAnn Fowler, an Enderby resident who is a mentor for new social workers with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, have been appointed for one-year terms to the Board. “I’m looking forward to working with Andrea and JoAnn, who bring a tremendous depth of experience working with and serving communities in the region,” notes Gloria Morgan, the Chair of the Board of Governors, who...
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AV joins Mohawk and other institutions across Canada to form Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery
September 24, 2020
Eight colleges, institutions, CEGEPs to support new climate-resistant economy AV is joining forces with a group of colleges, institutions, polytechnics and CEGEPs from across Canada to educate a post-pandemic workforce to support a new climate-focused economic recovery. The group of eight climate-action leading institutions from all regions of the country have launched an initiative called Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery. The group will champion projects across Canada to support a recovery that delivers good jobs,...
Read more...Advisors from across BC post-secondary institutions unite to engage and support Indigenous students
September 10, 2020
Strengthening Connections, an Indigenous recruitment initiative for post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, will have a whole new look and feel this fall. As post-secondary institutions across the province have geared up for remote or alternative delivery for fall semester, recruiters have also made the switch to a virtual world, notes Jewell Gillies, who currently serves as Executive Board Chair for Strengthening Connections and works in Indigenous Services and Student, Grad and Co-op Employment at AV. “Strengtheni...
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Splatsin Band celebrates the success of two of their students, now OC graduates
July 9, 2020
Representatives of the Splatsin Band and AV recently came together to honour and celebrate the success of two of their students with a special graduation event. Two years ago, Alicia Dominick and Tina William began upgrading their education with the Adult Academic and Career Preparation (also known as Adult Upgrading) program at AV in Salmon Arm. They continued their educational journey with the Early Childhood Educator Certificate and Early Childhood Educator Infant Toddler Specialty training. And as they...
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College and Westbank First Nation sign new MOU, continue to deepen partnership
June 21, 2020
AV and Westbank First Nation (WFN) recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, building on a long history of working together to increase access and support WFN members in achieving their post-secondary education goals. In all, the new MOU outlines seven ways in which the partners will continue to collaborate on projects and programs that will benefit learners from the WFN community, while helping both organizations learn from one another and build professional capacity. Signing on behalf of Westbank First Nation was...
Read more...College working with students, employers and communities to enhance co-op opportunities for Indigenous learners
June 18, 2020
How can AV enhance support for Indigenous students stepping into co-op work terms with employers? And in turn, how can OC better assist employers looking to hire students and set them up for success during their time in the workforce? These are just two of many questions inspiring Jewell Gillies as she consults with students, employers, other post-secondary institutions and Indigenous community members in the region and beyond as part of a 15-month long research project. “This project delves into many aspects of co-operative...
Read more...Coyote, the Trickster
June 2, 2020
Trickster stories are common among various Indigenous nations. While there are some cross-cultural similarities of tricksters amongst nations, each nation will have its own unique trickster and stories. Coyote is considered a trickster to both Syilx Okanagan and Secwepemc peoples. Coyote is often breaking the rules and bringing teachings through his adventurous mishaps. These teachings have strong ties to local societal ...
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K’nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən garden
June 1, 2020
Stepping along the bark mulch path of K'nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən, navigating through the dense brush of salmon berry and olive trees, visitors get a rare opportunity to step into a space filled with traditional plants significant to Syilx Okanagan people.K'nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən (Kalamalka Garden) is an Indigenous garden created in 2017 through a unique collaboration among the Okanagan Indian Band (Elders and community members), AV and the Food Action Society of the North Okanaga...
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na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden
April 15, 2020
AV's Kelowna campus is home to a traditional garden established in 2017 to celebrate and recognize the rich history and knowledge of the Indigenous people of the region.The name na'ʔk'ʷulamən generally translates to "the things that we do." This reflects things that Indigenous people do with plants and the land, including maintenance of the land; selection and use of plants for food, technology, medicines and for ceremonial purposes; and the sharing of this knowledge ...
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Specialized Training Offered by Lillooet Tribal Council and AV
March 26, 2020
The Community Adult Learning Centre in Lillooet, B.C., recently partnered with AV to offer the Introduction to Office Administration training program, a fast-track program designed to build essential office skills necessary to job readiness in the field. Community consultation and local job vacancies highlighted a need for office administration. Yvonne LaRochelle, manager for the Community Adult Learning Centre, set out to close the gap between those in need of work and the office administration jobs available in her communi...
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Coble earns doctoral degree, shines light on Indigenous students’ post-secondary experiences
February 11, 2020
When James Coble crossed the stage to pick up his doctoral degree from the University of Calgary he was overcome with many emotions. But for AV’s Director of Student Services and father of two, there was no emotion greater than the pride of setting a positive example for his children. “For me, it was the completion of a seven-year journey,” explains Coble. “At the end, as I did at every stage, I reminded myself that my kids were always at the top of the list of reasons why I was doing this.” Coble graduated with a Doctor of...
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