News
GDI Partners Launch New Indigenous Ed. Doc Program
By Desirae Barker, GDI Snr. Program Coordinator
Jan 24, 2024
Posted in: Education, Gabriel Dumont College, Uncategorized
The following article was originally published in the GDI Communicator Vol. 17 Issue 12, December 2023. The Communicator is a monthly internal newsletter intended to celebrate the achievements of the management and staff of the Gabriel Dumont Institute. You can find the archive of previous issues in the Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture.
Early this winter, Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), in partnership with the University of Regina (UofR), launched a new three-year Indigenous Education Doctorate Program in Prince Albert, SK.
The Indigenous Education Doctorate program is a cohort and community-based program designed to provide students and communities in Northern Saskatchewan with advanced educational options. The program emphasizes Métis local knowledge, history, spirituality, culture, and how the locality interacts and is positioned within broader national and international contexts.
Overall, the program aims to provide students access to a full Ed. Doc program, stimulate collaborative community development by addressing local educational issues through Indigenous-centered coursework and practice-focused research; respond to professional development needs of school divisions and other educational groups outside of the normal geographical recruitment range of the University; and make an essential step towards our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
This 24-credit hour program also includes nine Indigenous Dissertation of Practice (IDIP) hours and offers students the flexibility to learn in class, on the land, and online. Most courses will be held during evening and weekend sessions and over summer institutes.
GDI is incredibly proud to offer this program in partnership with the UofR. After graduating nearly 1,500 Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) Indigenous educators and 141 Indigenous Community-based Master of Education graduates, this program was a natural next step in pursuing and creating higher education opportunities for Métis people. The Indigenous Education Doctorate program is one of the first of its kind. It will ensure that Indigenous people are well-represented and have strong voices as decision-makers and administrators in the education system.
The Indigenous Education Doctorate program opened applications in mid-November and will accept applications until February 15, 2024. Two open houses are scheduled to introduce prospective students to the program; one was held on December 4, 2023, and the second will be held on January 4, 2024. Registration details can be found on our website at www.gdins.org/events. The initial information session drew a significant audience, reflecting substantial community interest and highlighting the program’s remarkable appeal.
The first cohort of Indigenous Education Doctorate students will start classes in July 2024 and are expected to be a part of the Spring 2027 convocation ceremony. For further program information, including admission requirements, application details, tuition, and a complete description of all courses, please visit www.gdins.org/doctorate.
