Next spring Medicine Hat College will host the first provincial Indigenous Learner Summit after receiving a funding grant from the province. The summit is intended to bring together post-secondary institutions working to support Indigenous adult learners in Alberta.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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The province is providing Medicine Hat College a $60,000 funding grant to co-ordinate the first provincial Indigenous Learner Summit next spring.
MHC announced Monday it was chosen to receive an Indigenous Learning Grant to be used to host the summit intended to bring together the post-secondary education system in support of Indigenous adult learners in Alberta.
The college says it will collaborate with institutions across southern Alberta and the government to bring together professionals from across the province to support a system-wide dialogue throughout the Indigenous Learner Summit, as well as promote the benefits of higher education to Indigenous learners.
Nicholas Langat, director of student supports, says MHC prides itself on its ongoing efforts toward truth and reconciliation, led by its Indigenous Engagement and Students Supports office.
“We have pride as a college to be recognized and to host because it means we must be doing something right,” said Langat. “We’re also going into this to learn, to see that others are doing and hopefully borrow best practices.”
Over the past several years the college has focused efforts to promote reconciliations and help learners connect with Indigenous culture by hosting ceremonies, craft circles, Elder speeches and ceremonies throughout the school year.
Additionally, the college hosts large-scale annual community events including the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, Red Dress Day and Orange Shirt Day.
“We want every institution to be part of this that has an office similar to our Indigenous Engagement and Student Supports. We have actually talked about opening it up to other provinces as well. So, while it is a provincial event, our initial thinking is that we could open it up to Western Canada.”
