North Island College has received a national award for Canada’s first plan committed to Indigenizing international education at a college or university.

Mark Herringer, NIC’s Executive Director of International Education, and Sara Child, Indigenous Education Facilitator filling in for Kelly Shopland, NIC’s Executive Director, Indigenous Education, accepted the award on behalf of NIC.

“This award recognizes the people who have worked so hard over the years to see Indigenization in action at NIC,” said Shopland.

“Mark’s commitment, and his team’s openness to collaborate and learn from Indigenous Elders and the Indigenous Education Council at NIC throughout this process, continues to be essential. I’m so proud on behalf of NIC and be recognized for work that has taken years to fall into place.”

The bronze award, presented at the College and Institutes Canada World Congress in Montreal this week, recognizes the broad international activity of the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) including Journeying Together, which puts into action NIC’s institutional commitment to Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation through a global lens.

The plan includes a wide range of actions that engage international students as immigrants to Canada by introducing them to Indigenous knowledge and understanding throughout their studies – from orientation to graduation.

Journeying Together was seeded through a connection with a college in Hawaii and evolved into an Indigenous language field school.

For more information, visit North Island College.