On one of the final days of summer break, a group of Indigenous secondary students made their way into the First Nation House of Learning at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The group was brought together to learn about UBC's Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) and to share their perspectives on how the Learn-and-Earn program could provide the most value to Indigenous learners at VSB schools. 

After some dice-rolling icebreakers and a gathering circle outside, presenters Jessica and Alexis from UBC, and VSB's director of instruction, Indigenous education, Chas Desjarlais, spoke about the program.

An intro into NITEP 

In an effort to increase the number of Indigenous educators across the province, NITEP prepares Indigenous teacher candidates with culturally appropriate resources and services. It is a five-year Bachelor of Education program with an Indigenous focus. 

The program aims to increase access to post-secondary studies for Indigenous learners and help students maintain their connection to their home and community while pursuing post-secondary education. 

NITEP offers; 

• A cohort model with other Indigenous teacher candidates 
• Learning from local Indigenous professors 
• Support by Indigenous student support staff 
• Begin classroom observations in their first year 

Al, a fourth-year NITEP student, shared a first-hand experience about the program. 

“I am so grateful for my last four years as a NITEP student,” says Al. “And I am so excited to use all my learning in my future career.” 

Learning about Learn and Earn 

Learn-and-Earn helps Indigenous high school students begin earning credits to become an educator as early as Grade 11. 

The program supports an annual cohort of 30 Indigenous students to graduate with education assistant qualifications and transition into the NITEP program. This means students within the program can take dual credit courses in high school, which can then be transferred towards their credits in post-secondary. 

The Learn-and-Earn program also supports students in working part-time as Indigenous Education Enhancement Workers (IEEWs), earning money while becoming certified teachers within NITEP. 

Student insights 

Following discussions and planning for the future, students were then asked for their insight to help shape the Earn-and-Learn program. In groups, students shared what they would like to see in their schools that would support three key areas: 

1. Academic success 
2. Growing community 
3. Being culturally grounded

Some common themes from the conversation included: 

• Academic success: tutoring, life-skill classes, support in understanding when and how to apply to post-secondary. 
• Community: canoeing, camping kayaking, land-based learning, and food. 
• Cultural: land-based learning, access to Elders, language learning, and carving.

Campus Tour and Time in xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden 

After a morning of learning and sharing, it was time to head out and explore the UBC Campus! Al guided the group through the university grounds, finishing the tour at the Indigenous Health Research and Education Garden (IHREG), located at UBC Farm. The garden’s traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) name is xʷc̓ic̓əsəm, meaning “The place where we grow”. 

Dr. Alannah Young and several staff members welcomed the students, beginning the afternoon by smudging. Dr. Young taught about the plethora of plants that grow within the garden and the medicine they provide. Everyone was then welcomed to break off into groups and begin interacting with the land. 

After an afternoon of learning, listening, harvesting and tea making, everyone joined together for a closing circle. The day concluded by sharing feelings and reflections on the time in the garden, with many students echoing words of calmness, happiness, gratitude, and enjoyment for an afternoon of land-based learning.