Sponsors and Partners

The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation was established in 1937 by John Wilson McConnell to fund initiatives that improve the quality of life in Canada by building communities that help people develop their potential and contribute to the common good.

THE J.W. MCCONNELL FAMILY FOUNDATION

The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North.

UArctic builds and strengthens collective resources and collaborative infrastructure that enables member institutions to better serve their constituents and their regions. Through cooperation in education, research and outreach we enhance human capacity in the North, promote viable communities and sustainable economies, and forge global partnerships.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARCTIC (UARCTIC)

A primary aim of NCCIE is to offer a national platform for educators, communities, and others to learn from each other about Indigenous education programs that are shared on the NCCIE website. Dechinta is a Regional Lead in recruiting a team of ‘Interviewers’ or ‘Researchers’ and training them (with the help of the NCCIE Tech Team at First Nations University) on interviewing skills; developing an “asset map”; overseeing the Researchers’ work as they go out and hold interviews; working with them (as needed) as they upload their interviews to the WebPortal that has been designed for the project; conducting quality reviews and coordinating and hosting Regional Workshops.

THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR COLLABORATION IN INDIGENOUS EDUCATION (NCCIE)

Yellowknives Dene First Nation is comprised of over 1500 members from Ndilo, Dettah and Yellowknife. Together we work year-round with Elders, chief and council and other community members to support and provide programming when on Chief Drygeese Territory.

YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION

The Government of Northwest Territories aims to serve their communities by focusing on the strengths of Northerners.

GOVERNMENT OF NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Guardians are employed as the “eyes on the ground” in Indigenous territories. They monitor ecological health, maintain cultural sites and protect sensitive areas and species. They play a vital role in creating land-use and marine-use plans and they promote intergenerational sharing of Indigenous knowledge—helping train the next generation of educators, ministers and nation builders. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is partnered with Dechinta in developing the Guardians Pilot Program a training opportunity focused on core skills guardians need to conduct land use planning and other management projects.

INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE – GUARDIAN PROGRAM

Our long-term goal is to create a self-sustaining water and ecological monitoring program that will enhance protection of water resources and fulfill the promise of Indigenous water governance.

We engage in interdisciplinary, and Indigenous-led co-research on water, including its ecological, socio-economic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. Our project team is committed to reciprocally enabling respectful Community-Based Research and observing OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access and Possession) protocols.

DECOLONIZING WATER – BUILDING RESILIENT WATER FUTURES

The Initiative for Indigenous Futures (IIF) is a partnership of universities and community organizations dedicated to developing multiple visions of Indigenous peoples tomorrow in order to better understand where we need to go today. Through its four main components –workshops, residencies, symposia, and archive– IIF will encourage and enable artists, academics, youth and elders to imagine how we and our communities will look in the future. IIF is conducted by Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (AbTeC), a research network based at Concordia University.

INITIATIVE FOR INDIGENOUS FUTURES

The Counselling Foundation of Canada, a family foundation funded by Frank G. Lawson and his estate, was established in 1959 to create and enrich career counselling programs and improve the technical skills of career counsellors. The object of the Foundation is to engage in charitable and educational activities for the benefit of people; thus enabling them to improve their lifestyles and make a more effective contribution to their communities.

THE COUNSELLING FOUNDATION OF CANADA

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) supports Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and northern peoples in their efforts to:

improve social well-being and economic prosperity
develop healthier, more sustainable communities
participate more fully in Canada’s political, social and economic development — to the benefit of all Canadians

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

The Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta worked with Dechinta to deliver its first pilot courses in June 2010. Currently the University of Alberta and Dechinta Bush University work together to deliver Native Studies curriculum twice a year including Dechinta Core courses.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA FACULTY OF NATIVE STUDIES

With the delivery of the first UBC accredited Certificate (starting in Fall 2018) and our continued delivery of University accredited programming, Dechinta continues to fill a recognized gap in post-secondary education opportunities in the north. With increased support from the GNWT we can continue to leverage federal research and language funding, and offer expanded programming accredited by top ranked research and teaching institutions across Canada.