SIIT looks forward to a bright future

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The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) recently celebrated 25 years of successful operation, and though the milestone was observed with much fanfare and back-slapping, SIIT's management and board of governors has no intention of resting on the laurels of past accomplishments. Rather, both are hard at work making the plans that will continue to foster the institution's growth and prosperity throughout this new century of changing business needs and societal conditions.

Not that an extended period of back-slapping wouldn't be warranted. SIIT has received accolades from organizations and distinguished individuals throughout the province and country for its unwavering commitment to First Nations education.

"SIIT ... provides high quality vocational and technical employment training, as well as educational services to Saskatchewan's First Nations. I commend this institution for its commitment to education and First Nations people," said Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert, his words only one example of the lengthy list of glowing endorsements heaped on the increasingly high profile institution.

Given the institute's present success and constantly growing student body, the foreseeable future will not hold any drastic changes. Rather, SIIT will continue to focus on the areas that have resulted in its current achievements-developing new programs that meet the needs of First Nations communities and individuals, and working in partnership with business and other educational institutions to improve program access, quality of instruction and employability of graduates.

"We've got many irons in the fire. We're increasing capacity at all campuses and extending partnerships into other areas of business of economic and social benefit to First Nations people, such as forestry and mining," explained SIIT President Joan Greyeyes.

One such partnership is a deal with Cisco Systems Canada (a leader in computer networking) to provide expanded programs in computers and related technologies. Another is with SaskTel, one of Saskatchewan's biggest employers, to offer a program in basic electronics.

The SaskTel deal, signed in 1998, has been a model of how business and educational bodies can work together for mutual benefit. The agreement was, in fact, honored with a Chrysler Canada Business/Post-Secondary Partnership Award from the Conference Board of Canada in 1999, and has since been used as the basis for other joint agreements.

"We are living in exciting times where information and technology offer new opportunities for career choices and improving one's quality of life," said Greyeyes. "SIIT is proud of the fact that our labs and classrooms use the best technologies available to train our students and connect them to the world of knowledge. To maintain excellence, SIIT will continue to develop and respond to the new technologies of the upcoming information age."

Beyond an increased focus on technology and on primary industries like forestry and mining, it is difficult for Greyeyes to speculate on future courses, as the programs offered by SIIT are primarily dictated by the needs and requests of specific business partners and First Nations' communities.

"SIIT continues to make solid progress along the path of Aboriginal education. Our focus on this journey has been and continues to be our students. The challenges are to be responsive to their needs and to ensure that the programming and operations of SIIT are in their best interests," explained Joe Quewezance, chair of SIIT's board of governors.

Business partnerships have certainly played a large part in expanding the scope of SIIT instruction, but equally important to the school and its students is the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act, passed by the provincial government in July 2000. The Act recognized SIIT as a full-fledged post-secondary institution, meaning that its courses can now be certified and any credits earned transferred to programs atmany other Canadian universities, colleges, technical institutes and training centers.

"Really good things have happened since the act," said Greyeyes. "We've worked with accrediting bodies to ensure programs are certified. For example, our management programs are recognized in 33 universities and schools of business across Canada. And the provincial government is realizing that SIIT is delivering a work force for this province.

"We're getting the message out that we're the experts in the area of training First Nations people-call us when you want to put a program together to train people to succeed."

The government's realization of the importance of First Nations workers has resulted not only in recognition and increased support for SIIT, but also in an overall review of Saskatchewan Education's policies concerning Aboriginal education. Though credit for this long-awaited initiative must be spread among many parties, it is due in no small part to the efforts and successes of SIIT and other provincial Aboriginal education institutions, which proved their worth and achieved success while operating outside the purview of the provincial government.

The review, which was conducted by Saskatchewan Education's Aboriginal Education Provincial Advisory Committee (AEPAC), recommends four broad courses of action to improve the learning opportunities for First Nations people. First, schools must be encouraged to foster and provide affirmation for all cultural backgrounds. Second, decision-making must become less centralized, and more a shared process of government, Elders, parents, and the community. Third, the Aboriginal content and perspectives already contained in the education curriculum must be properly presented to students. Fourth, the concept of education as a life-long process must be stressed to and accepted by the students themselves.

While these suggestions are broad and noticeably vague, they are meant only as guidelines for other government departments to se in designing future curriculums and educational initiatives. Ideally, the end result of this work will be a more positive educational experience for all First Nations people, giving them more opportunities and options for the future, and coincidentally providing a steadily increasing pool of young, motivated Aboriginal adults from which SIIT will draw its future student bodies.

The future for SIIT, and for its pool of well-trained and eager graduates, certainly appears bright. Every year, larger proportions of the Saskatchewan and Canadian workforce are composed of First Nations individuals, and as the overall pool of skilled workers continues to dwindle with an aging population, opportunities for these individuals will only continue to grow. Thanks to the proactive initiatives of SIIT, these future business and community leaders will be well equipped to handle all the opportunities and responsibilities that await them in the 21st century.