Our Department of Aboriginal Education offers people of Aboriginal descent, as well as people wishing to teach Aboriginal learners, with the opportunity to learn or increase their knowledge of a Native language, and to learn to become a teacher.
As part of the Faculty of Education, our undergraduate programs give you the knowledge, qualifications and cultural understanding to make a difference in your students' lives. We use a multidisciplinary approach to address the academic, cultural and traditional needs of Aboriginal students, educators and communities. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of:
- Teaching practices as they relate to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students
- Planning and teaching lessons that apply to different types of learners
- Aboriginal culture and practices as they relate to education
As well, some programs give you the opportunity to learn:
- Aboriginal languages to communicate with learners
There are two undergraduate degree programs to choose from, which lead to certification by the Ontario College of Teachers (OTC), and will allow you to teach in both Band-operated and provincial schools:
Honours Bachelor of Education (Aboriginal) Primary-Junior
This five-year degree program prepares you to teach at the Primary-Junior (P/J) level (from kindergarten to grade 6). During the first two years you will take courses on the following topics:
- Indigenous Learning
- English
- General Sciences
- Visual Arts
- Cree
- Ojibwe
In your final two years you will focus on educational theories and practices and complete an Honours project that demonstrates your learning in an original and culturally appropriate way.
Native Teacher Education Program (NTEP)
The Native Teacher Education Program (NTEP) was created to increase the number of qualified Native teachers in Ontario. As a student, you will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Indigenous Learning, while concurrently working toward a Bachelor of Education degree. This is a five year degree leading to teaching certification at the Intermediate-Senior (I/S) level.
We also offer a Native Languages Certificate or Diploma program, leading to a restricted certificate with the Ontario College of Teachers, that allows you teach native languages:
Native Language Instructors' Program (NLIP)
This program has two components taught during summer sessions:
- Native Language Instructors' Diploma Program
- Native Language Teacher's Certification
