As a part of its new strategic plan, the College of New Caledonia (CNC) is focusing on Indigenizing the college over the next five years.
The 2021-2026 strategic plan is called lhulh whuts’odutel’eh – Learning Together which in the Lheidli dialect from Dakelh means ‘We will learn together'.
At the core of the plan is CNC’s new vision which focuses on three themes: learning together, changing lives, and creating futures. Each of these is translated into Dakelh: lhulh whuts’odutel’eh (we will learn together), lhk’enazdulkat (we change ourselves), nus ‘uztelelh (we will create the future).
The plan was developed over last year and included hundreds of contributions, dozens of COVID-safe meetings, and open forums across the region CNC serves.
It focuses on four main goals: learning across a lifetime, student success focused education and training, organizational strength and agility, and community engagement and partnerships.
While the plan states that all goals will work together to help the college achieve its vision, to “ensure student success, Indigenization is seen as part of everyone’s job, with specific objectives related to Indigenization efforts integrated across all four goals.”
In the previous strategic plan, Aboriginal education was a stand-alone goal.
“In terms of implementation, this meant the goal was sometimes viewed as the sole responsibility of CNC’s Aboriginal Education Division,” states the college.
“In this strategic plan, it is important that initiatives related to Indigenization reach beyond a single division, and that we all understand everyone at CNC is responsible for the College’s reconciliation efforts and Indigenous student success. We also know that true Indigenization is about more than the education we provide, it is also about our culture and practices - everything we do.”
CNC has campuses in six communities, serving 22 First Nations communities and 23 per cent of CNC’s domestic student body is made up of Indigenous students and the college says this cohort is growing.
“CNC’s student body is becoming more diverse. Learners are older and from a range of cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds. Population estimates suggest that the traditional post-secondary population will decline in the next decades, with the exception of Indigenous Canadians and immigrants”
The college says its plans, practices, and programming will reflect the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Specific objectives outlined relating to Indigenization in the new plan include; investigating how to meaningfully change college practices, approaches, and organization so that Indigenous ways of knowing and doing are integrated and a culture of inclusion is fostered; Reviewing employee recruitment and progression policies to identify and remove inherent biases against Indigenous peoples; Inspiring the next generation of Indigenous leaders; and reflecting Indigenous cultures in CNC’s physical and virtual spaces.
“In many organizations strategic plans often start with great expectations but may lose momentum,” says CNC President and CEO Dr. Dennis Johnson. “It’s our objective to make this plan part of the fabric of CNC. We will use it as a guide in making decisions and setting priorities. We will develop cascading plans and regularly report on our progress in meeting these goals.”
The college says community engagement on lhulh whuts’odutel’eh – Learning Together will continue for the next five years.
CNC says it will also seek further input and feedback as the plan is implemented so it can respond to changing needs and adjust when necessary and will continue to work closely with First Nations and Indigenous partner groups.
You can read CNC’s strategic plan in full on its website.
