Success for Aboriginal college in Vancouver

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The Native Education Centre in Vancouver is a private post-secondary Aboriginal college. From the beginning of a one-room school in 1967 the school is now taught in a West Coast longhouse that holds up to 250 students.

"They developed this school to help Aboriginal people who had a Grade 5 level or whatever to graduate and get a decent job after graduating. It was obviously a good thing, especially with a lot of Aboriginal people coming from the reserves and moving into the city. The attendance grew so about 15 years ago they built this West Coast longhouse and this is where our present day college is," said Christine Piche, marketing director. "As Aboriginal people our history has been that we have never finished high school. A lot of Aboriginal people back then came out of a residential school and a majority of them could not make it in a mainstream school or a university. So there was a need for Aboriginal people to get their Grade 12," she said.

From its basic upgrading course, the school now offers skills training and a number of university transfer programs.

Other courses include office administration, family and community counselling, Native criminal justice; a course in parole and probation, Aboriginal tourism management; a diploma and university transfer program, Aboriginal land stewardship; courses on environmental issues; sun mask tours; a youth training program and a course in digital video production. Students can also take courses in drum-making, button-blanket making, Aboriginal art history; West Coast art or Aboriginal language. To date, graduates from the school have totaled more than 3,000. Many have gone on to be leaders in their communities as teachers, police officers or counsellors. Many have left with a certificate or a diploma in hand.

"The majority of the instructors are Aboriginal and our board of directors are all Aboriginal and we are quite proud of this. It is having Aboriginals teaching Aboriginals. It is not unusual for you to see Elders coming in to bless the school. The other day there was a ceremony here with people drumming and singing," said Piche. "Lots of students get to learn about their culture here. Some of them did not get a chance to learn any traditions while growing up because they were either in foster homes or raised in a non-traditional family. Students are so much stronger when they leave here. They get so much pride after they've learned about their background and traditions," she said.

Plans are underway for a graduation ceremony on July 15. The ceremony will be held at the University of British Columbia.

"I would say that we have about 70 students graduating. Some of the courses are longer than others, so it varies. We are still going through the final count of the graduates," said Piche. "They really look forward to the ceremony. A lot of the graduates make their own graduation dresses and wear," she said.