Niagara College’s School of Academic and Liberal Studies is preparing to launch a new program for Indigenous students this January.
My Path of Worthwhile Educational Re-Engagement (MPOWER) will teach essential academic and applied skills to students using a community approach. The program, which is being delivered alongside community partner NPAAMB – Indigenous Youth Employment & Training, is unique to the NC community and incorporates a series of non-credit and credit courses that weave Indigenous ways of knowing and being throughout the curriculum.
The eight-month program is being offered to Indigenous youth and young adults between the ages of 18 to 30 who are eager to transition to post-secondary education, and understand the barriers that have hindered them from moving forward in the past. The collaborative relationship between NC and NPAAMB, as well as partnerships with additional Indigenous organizations and individuals, will aim to address those barriers for students.
“From the moment of applying to the program until well after the program concludes, our community approach will support students in a holistic manner to see them through to a path of success,” said Shanyn Porter, NC’s Project Manager and Educator, Workforce Development and Community Programs.
Funded by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, program costs for tuition, textbooks and supplies have been fully covered for MPOWER students, who will begin the program on January 10.
The curriculum will include courses geared to community service-related programs, but will benefit students entering any post-secondary program. Some of the courses include Intro to Sociology and Psychology, Communications and Self Development, which will be primarily taught by faculty in NC’s School of Academic and Liberal Studies, as well as courses like Turtle Island Ways and Discovering Two Worlds of Careers, taught by NPAAMB staff.
Indigenous cultural teachings and approaches to student well-being will also be woven throughout the program, led by NPAAMB, with additional supports offered from NC’s student service areas including Indigenous Education, Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services and the NC Student Administrative Council.
“This program is not only a collaborative approach with the NPAAMB community, but within our own NC community as well,” said Porter. “We’re coming together with the primary focus of empowering our students, and where teaching and learning is a shared and reciprocal experience by all involved directly with the program.”
Although students will learn in the ‘virtual classroom’ during the Winter Term, they will get the chance to experience campus life by attending classes at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake over the Spring Term. Outdoor “on the land” experiences will also be introduced in the spring in locations across Niagara region, including NC’s Indigenous Garden in Niagara-on-the-Lake. By the end of the program, students will earn a Certificate of Completion with five college credits, or the equivalent of completing one term in a general arts and science program.
“The goal is to encourage students to continue along their educational path by enrolling in a post-secondary program after their MPOWER experience, positioning them for success in the future,” said Rebecca Nicholls, NC’s Manager of Community Employment Programs and Services.
MPOWER represents the second program that NC and NPAAMB have partnered on. In 2018, they developed the Journey to Success program, a course that equipped Indigenous youth with both soft employable skills and on-the-job training to prepare for, get and keep jobs with a focus on the healthcare, hospitality and tourism industries.
While Journey to Success wrapped up earlier this year, Porter noted that MPOWER not only allows NC and NPAAMB to continue building upon their solid partnership, it also provides an opportunity for the NC community to learn how to support Indigenous students moving forward.
“Our partnership remains strong and productive, based on respect and a genuine desire for Calls of Action through Truth for Reconciliation to be addressed, implemented and become part of the regular and continuous way we approach supporting and educating our learners,” said Porter.
On December 10, NPAAMB will host a ‘Meet & Greet and Lunch & Learn’ for those from the NC and NPAAMB community who will work directly with MPOWER students during the first term of the program. Part of the gathering will include a presentation from NPAAMB about ‘cultural sensitivity and understanding the needs of the Indigenous student.’
“This gathering is an opportunity to learn more about one another, creating a cohesive team and community approach that will help us support our students and one another during the program.”
Learn more about MPOWER on the program’s website: niagaracollege.ca/liberal/program/mpower/
