Vancouver Island University, British Columbia, Canada
Pitzer College, California, United States
Vancouver Island and Pitzer College Indigenous Student and Innovation Exchange
Through the program, Vancouver Island University and Pitzer College will bring together two established indigenous mentorship programs to increase Aboriginal student access to and retention in post-secondary education. The program goes beyond the standard approach to academics, drawing on Native North American scholars and Elders’ wisdom to contribute cultural knowledge and traditional ways of learning within the academic environment. Students on the program will be encouraged to find their voice and vision for cultural reclamation and sovereignty. The primary goal of this partnership is to develop an exchange program for indigenous youth to learn more about higher education in both the United States and Canada.