University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills

University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills

Blue Quills First Nations College logo
Former names
 Blue Quills Education Centre, Blue Quills First Nations College
Type First Nations-controlled university
Established 1931
President Vincent Steinhauer
Undergraduates available
Postgraduates available
available
Location St. Paul, Alberta, Canada
Affiliations ACCC, CCAA, AACTI, NAIIHL, FNAHLC
Website Official site

University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills(University nn Blue Quills, formerly Blue Quills Education Centre and Blue Quills First Nations College [BQFNC]) is a First Nations owned and operated university, the first of its kind in the country.[1] University nn Blue Quills is jointly owned by seven First Nation band governments: Beaver Lake, Cold Lake, Frog Lake, Whitefish Lake, Heart Lake, Kehewin, and Saddle Lake. It is not provincially chartered, unlike all other universities in Alberta but in instead incorporated by federal statute.[2] The institution was founded as an Indian residential school in the 1930s before being occupied by a protest movement in 1970 and then transferred to indigenous control in 1971. It was declared a university on September 1, 2015. Blue Quills is a member of the National Association of Indigenous Institutes of Higher Learning and the First Nation Adult and Higher Education Consortium, a non-profit organization in Western Canada, which coordinates the efforts of its members to provide quality adult and higher education, controlled entirely by people of the First Nations.[3] The president of Blue Quills is Vincent Steinhauer. University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills hosts an annual cultural camp in May.

Mission

University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills' mission is to "address the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental needs of the seven member First Nations through the delivery of quality education programs. The college is dedicated to increasing and accessing educational opportunities for students by empowering them to overcome barriers that restrict success in college and university settings. The college believes the maintenance and enhancement of culture contributes to positive self-esteem and, therefore, encourages participation in the learning environment."[4]

History

BQFNC was the first indigenous controlled and operated post secondary educational institution in Canada.[5] The brick school building was moved in 1931 to its present location on Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve and operated as a residential school until it was taken over by community members through peaceful protest and occupation in 1970. After negotiations with then Minister of Indian Affairs, Jean Chretien, the Blue Quills Education Centre was created and has since grown to become a full service post secondary institution with degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Scholarships & Bursaries

University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills scholarships for Aboriginal & First Nations students include: Theodore R. Campbell Scholarship.


References

  1. ↑ http://www.ammsa.com/publications/alberta-sweetgrass/blue-quills-celebrates-new-status-indigenous-controlled-university.
  2. ↑ http://www.ammsa.com/publications/alberta-sweetgrass/blue-quills-celebrates-new-status-indigenous-controlled-university.
  3. ↑ http://www.fnahec.org/ First Nation & Adult Higher Education Consortium
  4. ↑ Blue Quills First Nations College
  5. ↑ Blue Quills First Nations College history

Coordinates: 53°59′56″N 111°23′06″W / 53.999°N 111.385°W / 53.999; -111.385 (Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reserve)


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