Spring 2014 - Aurora College

Transcription

Aurora College
Currents Spring 2014
This Issue Features
NABE Symposium in Whitehorse, YT
Spring Convocations 2014
Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
HEO Students move earth
www.auroracollege.nt.ca
Office of the President
Contents
www.auroracollege.nt.ca
3. Message from the President
4. Board of Governors Update 5. Fourth Annual Indigenizing Psychology Symposium on Education and
Healing
5. YK Spring Clean-Up 2014
6-7 NABE Symposium 8. Robotics at Aurora Campus
8. Stories from the Sahtu at Thebacha Campus
9. Environmental Monitor Training at Drum Lake
9. 20th Anniversary of Nursing Program
10-11 Spring Convocations 2014
12. Celebrating Success in Fort Providence
12. Social Work students complete Mental Health First Aid
13. Science Rendezvous at Thebacha Campus
14. NWT Youth Symposium comes to Aurora Campus
15. B.Ed Program Head attends Indigenous Symposium
16. Tuktoyaktuk CLC Students finish Micro-Business class
16. Celebrating 50 Years of research in Inuvik
17. Bachelor of Education Winter Camp
18. RACEPAC visits the Western Arctic Research Institute
18. ARI research database
19. HEO Students move dirt at Thebacha Campus
20-22 Aurora College across the North
23. 2014 Aurora Open
Aurora College Currents
Student Newsletter
This newsletter is published
for the students of Aurora
College and is produced by
the Communications Office.
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Message from the President
It is hard to believe that another
academic year has almost come and
gone already! It seems like only a few
weeks ago I was welcoming you all
at fall orientation sessions. The past
few months have been a whirlwind
for students and staff alike: final
assignments, exams, convocations,
completion ceremonies, symposiums,
planning for next year – the list goes on
and on.
I would like to take this opportunity to
congratulate all of our students and learners
on the hard work and effort you put into
your courses. Your dedication never ceases
to amaze me, no matter how years pass or
many ceremonies I attend. I’m not ashamed
to say that your stories of perseverance and
determination touch me deeply when I hear
them. I say this every time I speak to a
group: “I have the best job in the world.”
You are the ones who make it so.
Two events I recently attended were
the NWT Youth Symposium (May 2630) at Aurora Campus in Inuvik, and
the Yellowknife North Slave Campus
Developmental
Studies
Completion
Ceremony on June 6. Aurora College has
been hosting the NWT Youth Symposium
for the past four years, and this is the first
time it has been held outside of Fort Smith.
I had the good fortune to be able to spend
some time with a number of motivated,
energetic students from Beaufort-Delta
and Sahtu area high schools. Events such
as these remind me that our future is in
good hands with these young people.
The Developmental Studies completion
ceremony in Yellowknife was impressive.
Learners from ALBE, Access programs
and the Literacy Outreach Centre were
celebrated, as well as Aurora College and
ECE’s first Adult Recognition Model high
school graduates. Thank you so much to
everyone who worked so hard to put those
two events together.
As the academic year draws to a close,
I am reminded, too, of how much extra
work our instructors, faculty and staff do
in order to help our students be successful.
I am indeed fortunate to work with so
many professionals who strive to put the
benefit of our students first. In addition to
putting in extra hours to assist learners and
communities, and volunteering at various
charity and fundraising activities, our staff
sit on numerous campus, college-wide,
territorial and national committees, all for
the good of our students. I am proud of the
reputation for service that Aurora College
faculty and staff have.
During the next few weeks, we will be
recognizing Aurora College employees
who are also Alumni. If you haven’t already
done so, please contact the Communications
office at info@auroracollege.nt.ca to
receive your Alumni Information Form
so that you can be included. Alumni
Campus Resources
Your contributions and comments
are most welcome. Please send
them to info@auroracollege.nt.ca
or phone 867-872-7015
Aurora College Currents - Spring 2014
Jane Arychuk, Aurora College President
recognition events will be held: June 11
at Aurora Campus, June 13 at Thebacha
Campus, and June 19 at Yellowknife
North Slave Campus.
As we look forward to 2014-15,
there are some exciting anniversaries
on the horizon. The fall of 2014 marks
the 50th anniversary of the Inuvik
Research Centre, the 20th anniversary
of Aurora Research Institute, and
the 20th anniversary of Nursing
programs at Aurora College. Watch for
information and dates about special
events that will be happening this fall.
For more information on Student Services check out:
www.auroracollege.nt.ca and click on Current and Future students.
Libraries are located at all three campuses and the Aurora Research Institute’s Inuvik location. They contain more than 25,000 books,
periodicals, videos, government documents, and web-based resources. Internet access and inter-library loan services are also available.
Students have access to fully-equipped computer labs at all three campuses; most Community Learning Centres have computer labs or
work stations. Every student can set up their own “myauroracollege” email account for their academic and personal use.
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Board of Governors Update
The Aurora College Board of Governors
meets three times per year, and is
meeting June 10-11 at the Western Arctic
Research Centre in Inuvik. Meetings are
open to the public. Two new members
- Kathy Tsetso (Deh Cho) and Sheila
O’Kane (staff) – will be in attendance,
bringing the Board to full membership.
At the March 3-5 meeting that was
held in Norman Wells, the Board of
Governors passed several motions and
received a number of reports.
•
International Students – In follow-up to a differentiated application fee for International Students, the Board moved to create a
differential tuition rate of 300 percent the domestic rate for international students. The application fee of $200 for international
students was set in November 2013.
•
Governance Review – Governance processes and procedures, including pertinent legal aspects, will be reviewed, revised as
necessary, and formalized. Administration was tasked with preparing a review plan for discussion at the June meeting.
•
Student Input – A commitment was made to review relationships and communication with the three Students Associations/
Councils to determine how to better receive information about student concerns and issues. In addition, President Jane Arychuk
agreed to arrange informal “coffee meetings” with students at the three campuses prior to the June meeting in order to provide
another venue for student input.
•
Business and Office Administration Program Reviews – Terms of reference and a project plan for a review of the Business
Administration and Office Administration Programs were approved.
•
Student Records System Update – Work continues on researching a replacement Student Records System. Aurora College
and Education, Culture and Employment staff are developing a Capital Project Plan in order to access IT funding through the
GNWT.
•
Student Services Review Update – The Request for Proposals for this review was approved. The review should be completed
by the end of the 2013-14 academic year, then recommendations will be acted upon.
•
Student Accommodation Review – Members were updated on this GNWT review. It is focused solely on financial aspects of
student accommodation at Aurora College, and is a regularly scheduled review led by the GNWT.
•
Access Programs Review – A comprehensive review of all Aurora College Access programs was undertaken in 2013. The data
is being analyzed, and work is underway to implement a number of recommendations.
Fourth Annual Indigenizing Psychology
Symposium on Education and Healing
The Fourth Annual
Indigenizing
Psychology Symposium, Education and
Healing was held at Yellowknife North
Slave Campus May 22-23 in partnership
with the Indigenous Education Network
of the University of Toronto. Seventy-five
people, mostly Northerners from the fields of
Education, Health and Social Work, attended
lectures by Dr. Suzanne Stewart, University
of Toronto; Dr. Raven Sinclair, University of
Regina; and Dr. Rod McCormick, Thompson
Rivers University; on the topics of healing
and education from an indigenous world
view.
As well, two of Dr. Stewart’s graduate
students, Nicole Elliot and Theresa Beaulieu,
presented research papers while our own Dr.
Lia Ruttan shared a poster on her research in
the area of homelessness. It was a great two
days with an opportunity to listen to speakers,
reflect on the topics and network with other
GNWT staff in the helping fields.
Spring Clean-Up attracts volunteers from YK Campus
The Board Members thank you again for choosing Aurora College and wish both staff and students a good summer with lots of happy
times with family.
The Yellowknife North Slave Campus
Student Association raised an impressive
$833.33 during the annual Spring Clean- Up.
The money will go to the Food Bank
which is on the third floor of the campus.
A big thank you to all who participated
and organized.
The Aurora College Board of Governors met March 3-5, 2015. Pictured are the Aurora College Board of Governors, senior managers and administrative staff.
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The Spirit of the NABE Symposium
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By Bonita Nowell
The spirit of the first-ever Northern Adult
Basic Education (NABE) Symposium
was plentiful, and connected our northern
communities of learning from the three
Northern Colleges through a variety of
events and exchanges, including dialogue
panels, experiential learning, information
sessions, student panels, presentations,
table talks, roundtable discussions,
learning reflection, hands-on sessions,
focus groups, group work, practitioners
and workshops.
The symposium also provided the stage
for strengthening our appreciation for the
arts and cultural values of other people,
including our Aboriginal, First Nations
and Inuit neighbors, who all generously
shared themselves, their prayers, their
songs, their laughter and their heartfelt
story-telling. In the distance, Mount
Logan, the highest summit of the Saint
Elias Mountain Range, in the foreground,
our Adult Educators standing tall.
Delegates were also treated to a rich blend
of artistic and cultural expressions and
symbols, including:
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School of Developmental Studies Chair Sharon Miron, Community Adult Educators and Instructors.
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The contexts of Adult Basic Education
across the three northern territories are
each unique, but share commonality
as represented visually through the
NABE logo which incorporates all
three territorial flowers: mountain aven,
fireweed, and purple saxifrage. The many
Aboriginal, First Nations and Inuit groups
in the territories are vibrantly distinct, the
local languages and cultures are richly
varied, and the environments contrast
across the lands. The different colors of
these flowers evoke a dynamic mosaic of
ABE, as the background against which
the three territories find common ground;
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Spruce Boughs are a sign of welcome
by Yukon First Nations. There were 14
boughs, one on each table, representing
each of the fourteen Yukon First Nations;
A traditional Slavey song was shared by
our Master of Ceremonies, Paul Andrew;
Diverse languages were spoken and
heard;
A traditional opening prayer by Elder in Norman Wells CLC team.
Residence, Randall Tetlichi;
A Yukon First Nation welcome song
by traditional drummer and singer Starr
Drynock;
Beaded key chains with each territorial
flower were hand made by artisans Sandra
Mangelana, Christina Barrett and Sarah
McHugh, and provided to all delegates
Hay River and Fort Resolution CLC team.
Beaufort Delta region team.
with their NABE backpacks;
Graphic Artist, Lisa Edwards completed
live graphic recordings on each day;
Diyet, classically trained in Opera, now
an alternative Folk Artist, shared her life
story. Later that evening, Diyet and her
band entertained delegates at the Kwanlin
Dun Cultural Centre and her CD sold out;
Sharon Shorty, voted one of the Top 10
Yukoner’s to meet (Up Here Magazine,
1999), enlightened us all about life and
love, through her popular character
“Gramma Susie”;
The youth group, Dakawada Dancers, NABE Symposium Tri-Territorial Working Group – Bonita Nowell (centre) with Josh Cuppage,
received a standing ovation for their Erica Bourdan, Gabriel Ellis and Dan Page.
traditional musical performance at the
Feast in Haines Junction;
NCES is a non-profit society dedicated to • Photographs by Mieke Cameron,
The Dakhka Khwaan Dancers were
re-connecting at-risk First Nation youth to
who so kindly captured this
featured at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural
their cultures through the traditional art of
journey, are now being published
Centre;
carving. Connections to culture, language
into a digital photo book.
Dr. Michael Marker provided an
and the land bring about a natural healing
impromptu performance, playing a few
process that brings together generations,
Our staff summarized our journey
of his favorite songs on his guitar, and
cultures and communities in the hope of best through their feedback: “It was so
received several tokens for his efforts;
being a catalyst in the process of healing;
exciting to share ideas and resources with
The Northern Cultural Expressions • Particularly touching were the six all three territories. What a wonderful
Society (NCES) carved miniature
Student Success Videos from all three exchange of ideas.” It is this authors
paddles and painted traditional symbols
colleges, featured for Aurora College belief that all delegates were inspired in
on them for presenters and each of the
were Robert Voudrach and Lillian some way and that we have all returned
2014 Outstanding Adult Educators.
Kanayok; and
all the richer for this experience.
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The Robot
Invasion Has Begun
Aurora Research Institute is once
again supporting a Robotics Club at the
East Three Secondary School in Inuvik.
Three high school students are learning
basic robotics and electronics concepts
using Lego Mindstorms. The program
is running through May-June and has
one returning student from the 20122013 school year. In partnership with
the school, ARI is hoping to run a full
year program next year open to grades
7-12. Staff is exploring the possibility of
working with the elementary school as
well.
Environmental Monitor Training Program at Drum Lake
Students from the Sahtu region took part in the Environmental Training Program at Drum Lake, NT. The program enables community
members to take an active approach to monitoring industrial development in their community and traditional lands. The program was a
partnership between the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board (SRRB), the GNWT and Aurora College.
Lawrence Jackson, Charles Oudzi, John Tobac, Natanda Oudzi, instructors Adam Bathe and Geneviève Coté, Daniel Masuzumi and
Louise Yukon get ready to head out to Tets’ehxe (Drum Lake) for environmental monitoring training.
Stories from the Sahtu at Thebacha Campus
The Shúhtagot’ine, or Mountain Dene, have
used mooseskin boats for more than a century,
and in that time these boats have become an
important cultural icon. On March 27, as
part of the Aurora College Speaker Series,
Territorial Archaeologist Tom Andrews and
Shúhtagot’ine elder Leon Andrew visited
Thebacha campus to share their knowledge
of the history of the mooseskin boat and its
traditional use by Shútagot’ine.
In the summer of 2013, Tom and Leon
participated in a community boat-building
project in Tulita where elders and community
members (nearly 50 in total) reproduced one
of the traditional vessels. The speakers shared
their experience stretching the fresh moose
hides over the frame, stitching the seams, and
the emotional moment when the boat touched
the water.
In addition to his work on mooseskin boats,
Tom shared a unique documentary with strong
northern significance. Shot in 1957 by French
anthropologist Jean Michéa, the 25-minute
silent film shows several Shútagot’ine
families in their traditional lifestyle against a
background of breathtaking mountain scenery.
It also includes footage of people building and
traveling in a moose-skin boat.
In the 1990s, Tom was approached by
elders in the Sahtu region who remembered
the French anthropologist and his video
camera. They asked him to find the footage,
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Student John Tobac and instructor Genevieve Coté.
Caribou tracks on Drum Lake.
Celebrating 20 Years of the Nursing Program
[Top] Territorial Archaeologist
Tom Andrews and Shúhtagot’ine
elder Leon Andrew.
[Right]Shúhtagot’ine men build
a mooseskin boat on the shore
of the Keele RiverCREDIT:
NWT Archives/Norm
Simmons/N-1992-098: 0015
since they had never seen it. Andrews spent
two decades searching for Mr. Michéa before
finally making contact in December 2013. He
is now 95 years old and living in Paris. The
repatriation of the film was important to the
communities of Norman Wells and Tulita, as
many families and community members had
been featured in the film. It was a special treat
to see our guest, Leon Andrew, in the film as a
young boy playing with a toy boat.
The Aurora College Speaker Series is
generously funded by Conoco Phillips.
This fall marks twenty years since the
nursing program began at Aurora College.
To mark this momentous milestone, an
alumni dinner is being planned for October
2014. A Facebook page is currently under
development for this event and will be
available soon. All alumni, current and
former faculty and staff are invited to attend
this celebration. Please help spread the
word. For additional information, please
contact Denise Bowen at (867) 920-3043 or
dbowen@auroracollege.nt.ca.
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Bachelor Of Education Degree
Drybones, Victoria Lafferty, Aleda
Mantla, Krista
McDonald, Paige
Norris, Cassandra
Ricketts, Norris
Behchoko
Fort Resolution
Behchoko
Yellowknife
Fort Smith
Jamaica
Field, Jessica
McSwain, Maria
Edwards, Gladys
Yellowknife
Certificate in Adult Education
MacDonald, Angela
van Kessel, Janna
Yellowknife
Whitehorse, YT
Teacher Education Diploma
Amos, Twyla
Inuvik
Francis, Joanne
Fort McPherson
Inuvik
Lennie, Alecia
Pokiak, Maribeth
Inuvik
Environment & Natural Resources
Technology Diploma
Beck, Heather Elaine
Berube, Pierre-Luc
Hudson, Loren
Krutko, Laura
Reid, Graeme Davidson
Robinson, Craig Daniel
White, Kathleen
Yellowknife
Yellowknife
Fort Smith
Tulita
Hay River
North Sydney, NS
Sechelt, BC
Office Administration Diploma
Amos, Bambi
Clark, Shoneen
Firth, Mary
Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degree
Aho, Valisa Sara
Yellowknife
Apps, Jocelyn
Yellowknife
Budd, Sasha Lee
Chilliwack, BC
Cooper, Merrill
Yellowknife
Gall, Kendall Brooke
Wasa, BC
Kearnan, Axelle Yellowknife
King, Lori-Ann Marie
Yellowknife
Memedi, Violca
Yellowknife
Ohrling, Lindsay
Yellowknife
Paul, Megan
Yellowknife
Ridgley, Carolyn
Torbay, NL
Silke, Tanya
Yellowknife
Social Work Diploma
Cleary, CherylDeline
McLeod, Lidya Camillia
Yellowknife
Wray, Fiona
Yellowknife
Personal Support Worker Certificate Firth, Susie
Yellowknife
Foley, Tara Yellowknife
Landry, Nicholas
Yellowknife
Liske, Eileen
Dettah
Menacho, HelenDeline
Moses, MinaWrigley
Mustafa, Elham
Yellowknife
Stewart, Shirley
Fort McPherson
Vital, HelenDeline
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Fort Providence
Fort McPherson
Aklavik
Business Administration Diploma
Champagne, Naomi
Fort Smith
Chocolate, Gerald
Gameti
Edji, Violet
Fort Good Hope
Fergusson, Dana
Fort Smith
Pierrot, Janelle
Fort Good Hope
Stewart, Martha
Colville Lake
Tuckey, Brad
Fort Smith
Gillingham, Derek
Yellowknife
Goodliffe, Diane
Yellowknife
Li Wing Nam, Joey
Yellowknife
Rix, Coral
Yellowknife
Sah, Claris Yellowknife Smith, Maggie
Yellowknife
Yakeleya, Sheryl
Tulita
Grigoryan, Melanya
Yellowknife
Rodgers, Tylor
Yellowknife
Ciboci, Shannon
Inuvik
Dillon, Debbie
Inuvik
Lennie, Crystal Dawn
Inuvik
Early Childhood Development Certificate
Zorn, Shauna Marie
Aurora College
Spring Graduates 2014
Community Health Representative Certificate
Sachs Harbour
Aklavik
Inuvik
Business Administration Certificate
Desjarlais, D’Vonne
Fort Smith
Durrant-Hinkson, Brenda Jamaica
Johns, Melissa
Fort Smith
Lefoin, Dori-Ann
Fort Providence
Loreen, Dolly
Tuktoyaktuk
Robert, Denise
Fort McPherson
Thom-Gargan, Destiny
Fort Providence
Vermilion, Vallery
Fort Chipewyan
Broadhead, Gwen
Yellowknife
Hazenberg, Sasha
Yellowknife
Kogiak, Nathan
Yellowknife
Rusike, Sharon
Montreal, QC
Tinqui-Simpson, Timerin Behchoko
Wrigley, Christine
Yellowknife
Green, Sharon
Sachs Harbour
McGee, Glenda
Inuvik
Minakis, Nicolinea
Inuvik
Neyando, Amy
Fort McPherson
Noksana, Agnes
Inuvik
Rogers, Lisa
Inuvik
Ruben, Lauren
Paulatuk
Storr, Terilyn
Aklavik
Thrasher, Alice
Inuvik
Wolki, Patrick
Inuvik
Office Administration Certificate
Clement, Sylvia
Grenier, Amanda
Powder, Mary
Takazo, Robin
Wanderingspirit, Stacey
Norman Wells
Fort Smith
Grise Fiord, NU
Deline
Fort Smith
Message to Aurora College
Graduates from the President
It is with great pleasure that I offer my congratulations to the Aurora College Graduating
Class of 2014.
Aurora College University partners:
In studying for the parchment you received, you have applied your talents and skills, you’ve
pushed yourselves further than you probably thought possible, and I hope you have grown
in unexpected ways. As an advocate of lifelong learning, I know that education is a journey,
and the milestone we celebrate at these convocation ceremonies is one of the most
important markers on that journey.
As graduates, you are now prepared for a new phase in your lives. Equipped with knowledge
and skills from certificate, diploma and degree programs, you will soon take your place in
the workforce, helping to build a stronger territory to pass on to the next generation.
I applaud your courage to pursue your dreams and I congratulate you on your tremendous
accomplishments. I also thank you for choosing Aurora College. We have been honoured
to share this journey with you.
Sincerely,
Jane Arychuk
President, Aurora College
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Celebrating Success in Fort Providence
Science Rendezvous at Thebacha Campus
On March 28, students and staff at the
Fort Providence Community Learning
Centre celebrated the completion of two
new programs – Building Trades Helper
and Introduction to Office Skills.
The
students’
achievements
were acknowledged in a certificate
presentation ceremony followed by a
lunch. They were joined in celebration
by Jane Ayrchuk, President of Aurora
College; Heather McCagg-Nystrom,
Vice President of Communities and
Extensions; Rosemary Gill, Program
Head Dehcho Region; Chief Joachim
Bonnetrouge of Dehgáh Got’ie First
Nation; Scott Carle, Executive Director
of Dehgáh Got’ie First Nation; Shirley
Gargan, Employment Development
Coordinator with Dehgáh Got’ie First
Nation, and Alice Bouvier, Assistant
Employment Development Coordinator
with Dehgáh Got’ie First Nation.
The celebrations marked the end of
a very busy period for Fort Providence
CLC. In addition to the Building Trades
Helper and Introduction to Office Skills
programs, they have also delivered a sixweek Introduction to the Underground
Mine training program and full-time
Developmental Studies courses have
been delivered since the new year.
Nine
participants
successfully
completed the six-week Office Skills
program, developed by the NWT
Literacy Council, funded by NABE and
piloted by Aurora College. As well as
learning about skills for the job, such as
numeracy, communication, computing,
time management, and professionalism,
the course included job shadowing
and
work
placement
elements,
both supported by businesses and
organizations in the community. The
participants particularly enjoyed this
part of the course, as it gave them the
opportunity to work in and experience a
real office environment.
The twelve-week Building Trades
Helper program was funded by the Mine
Training Society and it began with a
two-week Ready to Work North course.
On May 6, Aurora College and the South
Slave Research Centre invited PW Kaeser
high school science students (Fort Smith) to
challenge themselves with science activities
as part of Science Rendezvous 2014. Science
Rendezvous is a national event that takes place
each year on university and college campuses
across Canada. The event aims to promote
interest in science among youth through fun,
hands-on, science-based activities.
The science challenge was put on by
College staff and local science professionals
representing several branches of science:
physics, environmental sciences, astronomy,
and health sciences. Instructors George
Peterson and Linh Nguyen from the
Environment and Natural Resources
Technology Program (ENTRP) showed
students how physics is used to spear a bear
using an atlatl, a traditional dart-thrower. Mike
Couvrette of the Thebacha and Wood Buffalo
Astronomy Society challenged students
to identify different spectrums of light and
shoot air rockets as far as they could. Melanie
Morse, occupational therapist, had students
complete a wheelchair obstacle course that
ended with drinking a thickened liquid that
is usually prescribed to speech language
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Jessica Dutton, ARI South Slave, B.Ed student Heather Burch and B.Ed instructor Peter Kikkert.
pathology patients. Students also engineered
“unsinkable” tin foil boats as well as raw egg
“catchers”.
The afternoon was a huge success and it
was great to see the college so full of young
people enjoying themselves. We look forward
to running an even bigger and better Science
Rendezvous next year.
Social Work Students:
Mental Health First Aid
It provided introductions to carpentry,
plumbing and electrics in a combination
of theoretical, classroom-based learning
and hands-on practical projects.
Projects included the construction of
two sheds and a gazebo; the gazebo is
to be donated to Dehgáh Got’ie First
Nation and will be sited close to the
river for members of the community
to use and enjoy. Of the initial eleven
participants (ten men and one woman),
ten successfully completed the course.
One had to withdraw in the early stages
due to relocation issues. The students
worked hard on their theory lessons
and exams but have all said that they
especially enjoyed the course’s practical
aspects and the satisfaction they gained
from seeing their projects through from
initial planning to completed products.
Back row (left to right): Michelle Bourke, Kassandra Spoelder, Kyla
Cerwaty, Alice Mawdsley, Stephanie Rabesca. Middle row (left to
right): Jolene Donovan, Cheryl Mandeville. Front row (left to right):
Kathy Ross, Gerri Hunter, Alyssa Carpenter, Leslie Marie
Keeping track of our mental health and well-being is just
as important as monitoring our physical health. The sooner
we receive medical help for a physical concern, the more
likely we are to recover. This is also true of concerns with
our mental health. However, many people do not seek the
help they need due to a lack of education, lack of support or
fear of judgment.
Basic Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour course that
teaches individuals how to identify the signs and symptoms
of mental health problems, and provides the knowledge and
confidence needed to assist anyone experiencing a mental
health crisis. In late winter and spring 2014, 11 Social Work
students and ten Personal Support Worker students received
this valuable training and are now certified Mental Health
First Aiders.
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The 2014 Youth Symposium Comes to Aurora Campus
B.Ed Program Head Attends Indigenous Symposium
The end of May brought students from
the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu Regions to
Aurora Campus in Inuvik for the fourth
annual NWT Youth Symposium – an
initiative to get high school students
familiar with college life and Aurora
College.
The students had a full schedule of
presentations, demonstrations, tours,
and activities from Monday, May 26
to Friday, May 30. During their stay,
the students occupied the college’s
single residence and a handful of the
family units. Thirty students and their
chaperones attended the symposium.
Instructors and community members
alike came out to help and guide the
students through their week-long
journey into post-secondary education.
On the day of arrival, the group
was given a bus tour of Inuvik, which
included the Community Greenhouse,
the Igloo Church, the Riverfront, the
beginnings of the Tuk-Inuvik Highway,
and the Aurora Research Institute. The
students, chaperones, and coordinators
gathered back at the campus for a BBQ
where they took part in a feeding the
fire ceremony, played games and were
welcomed to the College.
Throughout the week, students were
given a taste of several programs by way
of hands-on activities. This included:
building iPad stands with the School
of Trades, Apprenticeship & Industrial
Training; demonstrations on basic first
aid from the School of Health and Human
Services; creating iPhone apps with the
School of Business & Leadership; getting
a riveting lecture from Saeed Sheshehgar
at the Inuvik Learning Centre, School
of Developmental Studies; an Amazing
Race led by the School of Education; and
traditional Dene dart throwing and radio
triangulation with the Environment and
Natural Resources Technology program.
In addition, they took in presentations
on Trades and Apprenticeship Programs,
Student Financial Assistance and the
GNWT’s Education Renewal Initiative.
Thursday evening, they attended a
closing BBQ at Campbell Creek. It was
On February 28, Bachelor of Education
Program Head Mike Pickles attended the
Indigenous Symposium at the University of
Calgary, which focused on weaving indigenous
perspectives into various Schools of Education.
Specific table discussions centered around the
following two topics: What is standing in the
way of change, and, What needs to be done
to overcome these obstacles? Approximately
300 participants from colleges, universities
and the business sector were present. Also in
attendance were three well-known speakers,
Dr. Gregory Cajete, Dr. Allen Luke and Dr.
Jean Phillip.
Dr. Gregory Cajete is a Native American
educator whose work is dedicated to honouring
the foundations of indigenous knowledge in
education. Dr. Cajete is a Tewa Indian from
Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. He has
lectured at colleges and universities in the U.S.,
Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, Japan
and Russia. Currently, he is Director of Native
American Studies and an Associate Professor
in the Division of Language, Literacy and
Socio Cultural Studies, in the College of
Education at the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Allen Luke grew up in the Chinese
American community in Los Angeles, and
studied at the University of California, Santa
Barbara, before migrating to British Columbia
in 1973. He completed his teacher training
and PhD at Simon Fraser, where he later was
awarded an Honourary Doctor of Laws for
contributions to international education in
2005. He has since been Dean of Education
at the University of Queensland, Deputy
Director General of Education and Ministerial
Advisor for the Queensland Government, and
Foundation Dean of Research at the National
Institute of Education, Singapore. In 2013, he
was chief investigator on a major Australian
14
The Youth Symposium is focused on helping youth prepare for post-secondary education, as well as
learning about opportunities at Aurora College. While the focus is on experiential learning through handson opportunities and cultural activities, students also learn about the processes of NWT’s Student Financial
Assistance Program and other student support systems in place to facilitate post-secondary learning.
an evening of food, games, traditional
knowledge, and parting words.
The 2014 NWT Youth Symposium
was a roaring success. The event is
designed to familiarize high school
students with post-secondary education,
and to showcase the programs and
facilities available at Aurora College.
Bachelor of Education Program Head Mike Pickles attending the Indigenous Symposium
at the University of Calgary.
federal government evaluation of Indigenous
school reform, the most comprehensive
empirical study of Indigenous education to
date.
Dr. Jean Phillip is a Murri woman (Wakka
Wakka) from south-east Queensland, Australia.
Originally trained as a primary school teacher,
she now researches and teaches in Indigenous
education. Her PhD examined how resistance
was articulated, rationalised and managed
by non-Aboriginal students in a mandatory
Indigenous studies program for pre-service
teachers. She is particularly interested in the
interaction between Indigenous knowledge
systems and western colonial traditions with
regard to colonial identity construction and
intellectual authority, and teaching for optimal
learning in contested spaces.
“As educators, it was extremely valuable
to hear the knowledge they had to share with
us. A common theme mentioned throughout
the symposium was that forgiveness does not
change the past, but it does change the future,”
said Mike Pickles.
Aurora College Currents - Staff and Student Newsletter!
We’re always looking for story ideas and pictures. If you attend an event where
Aurora College is represented, please don`t hesitate to share your story or
photographs with us. Email: info@auroracollege.nt.ca
15
Tuktoyaktuk CLC students
finish Micro-Business class
Congratulations are in order for MeaganShayne Cockney and Gerald Rees for
receiving their completion certificates for
the Micro Business Class from Aurora
College. Both completed a business plan
as part of their curriculum which they
were able to present to the Economic
Development Officer of their community
of Tuktoyaktuk.
Celebrating 50 years of research in Inuvik
In 2014, we’re celebrating 50 years of
research in Inuvik!
In 1964, Indian and Northern Affairs built
and opened the Scientific Research Laboratory
in Inuvik. When it first opened, community
members and funders weren’t sure whether
the facility (commonly called “the Lab”)
would be successful, but any doubts were soon
put to rest. Almost immediately, university,
government and industry researchers came to
the Lab to do research and field studies both in
Inuvik and in the surrounding regions.
Over the past 50 years, the Inuvik Lab has
served as the home base for many research
projects that investigated the physical,
biological, and social environments of the
western Arctic. In February 1964, less than
a month after the building opened, a neutron
monitor that counts particles released by the
sun was installed at the Lab. For the first
few decades, a staff member had to come in
to the Lab each day to take monitor readings
and record them in log books, which were
periodically mailed to the project leads at the
University of Delaware. The Inuvik neutron
16
monitors are still in operation today, and are
our longest-running active research program
- although the invention of the internet means
that we no longer need to go in to work to take
readings on weekends and holidays!
It wasn’t just scientists and researchers
who used the Lab; the residents of Inuvik
also enjoyed many community events in
the building. There were no TVs or theatres
in Inuvik when the building opened, so
Fridays became Movie Night at the Lab,
and everyone enjoyed it very much. The
Lab was also the venue for some of the
first Inuvik town hall sessions, where the
development of other town facilities, such
as the library and arena, were proposed and
discussed.
After 20 years, the Lab was turned over
to the GNWT, and became the “Science
Institute of the Northwest Territories,” also
known as SINT. Ten years later, in 1994,
SINT merged with Aurora College and
became the Aurora Research Institute. In
2011, the original building was torn down
and replaced with the Western Arctic
Research Centre, which was designed to
meet the needs of both the research and
local communities. Although both the name
and the building itself have changed over
the years, the goals of the facility and its
staff remain the same: to support research
and discovery in the western Arctic, to
help answer northern research questions
and priorities, and to help communicate
research results to northern residents.
The research centre could not have grown
into the institution it is today without the
support of local residents, Aurora College
and its staff, and the scientific community.
On behalf of all of us, we would like to
say thanks to everyone who’s supported us
over the years. We look forward to many
more years of research in Inuvik!
Bachelor of Education Winter Camp 2014
This year’s winter camp ran March
19-21 at the Salt River Metis Settlement,
about 30 km west of Fort Smith. Five
students - Theresa Kakfwi, Treeva
Richardson, Tim Beahen, Alexa Linaker
and Carly Gon - were joined by Elder/
Territorial guide Archie Smith.
In preparation for camp, students took
part in “a day in the life of a trapper”
activity, in which they simulated a
situation where their snowmobile
broke down on the trap line. In this
activity, the students’ objective was
to build a survival shelter and make a
fire within one hour. The purpose of
the simulation was to give the students
training on how to avoid exposure,
and how to make an effective shelter
and a small fire positioned to maximize
warmth and effectiveness. The students
completed the task in less than 45
minutes. The second training activity
was a snowmobiling course facilitated
by Terrance Campbell and Cheyenne
Paulette, officers from the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources.
This activity was essential to get the
students oriented and familiarized with
the machines they would be using on
the land. A big ‘thank you’ to Terrance
and Cheyenne for making it a great and
action-packed day for us.
Day 1 – The students met at the college,
loaded their gear and were on the road
by 9:20am. In the same efficient manner,
the students were unloaded, had their
gear put way, and their snowmobiles
warming up by 11:15 am. After a
quick lunch, Archie Smith led seven
snowmobiles breaking trail on route to
Grande De Tour to set rabbit snares.
Throughout the day trip, we saw much
“sign” (tracks) including Martin, Lynx,
Wolf and Rabbit. After setting snares,
The students were motivated,
hard-working and respectful.
we headed back to camp, got settled
in and cooked supper. Tim Beahen,
our student/survival expert, spent time
with the other students showing them
the different constellations and ways to
mark direction. Theresa Kakfwi showed
the students how she cuts and prepares
caribou for making dry meat. By 10:30
it was lights out.
Day 2 – Overnight, the temperature
dropped down to -27C with a wind chill
of about -35C. First thing, the students
headed out to check their rabbit snares.
Unfortunately, there were no rabbits.
However, Theresa Kakfwi brought
enough caribou for everyone and there
was a sufficient food supply.
After a return to camp and a hearty
lunch, Murray Scott, Certified Fire
Arm Safety Course Instructor, arrived
to put on a fire arm safety lesson. Then,
Murray and Archie took the students
out on the land to put their the newly
acquired knowledge to the test. Using a
high powered rifle, they had a combined
target accuracy rate of 71 percent.
Next, Environment &Natural Resources
Technology Program Instructor George
Peterson discussed tree identification
and how to find direction using white
poplars. He also showed the students
how to identify trees that were used by
black bears to mark their territory.
Due to some overflow, night ice
fishing for losh (ling cod) was cancelled.
After a late supper and loading two of
the six sleds onto the trailer, the evening
was spent playing cards, cutting wood
and drying caribou meat. Lights out by
11:00pm.
Day 3 - Morning brought two
early runs to Fort Smith with loads of
snowmobiles, then breakfast, breaking
camp, cleaning teh site and loading gear,
and back to Fort Smith.
Throughout the camp experience, the
students were motivated, hard-working
and respectful. Special thanks to elder
Archie Smith, the presenters and the
students and staff involved.
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17
RACEPAC visits the Western Arctic Research Centre
HEO students move dirt at Thebacha Campus
For one month this spring, the Western
Arctic Research Centre (WARC) hosted
a group of 30 European researchers
who traveled to Inuvik to collect data on
atmospheric aerosols and polar clouds.
Their campaign was called the RadiationAerosol-Cloud Experiment in the Arctic
Circle, or RACEPAC for short.
Their objective was to better characterize
the effects of Arctic clouds on local heat
budgets. Cloud cover can reflect incoming
sunlight back into space, but can also act
as a blanket that holds warm air close to
the earth’s surface. In other words, clouds
can either cool or warm the ground lying
beneath them. Due to these competing
effects, clouds are a complex and poorly
understood factor in global climate models,
particularly in the rapidly-warming polar
regions.
The RACEPAC team used a very unique
approach to collect their data – they
attached a variety of instruments to two
DC-3 planes, and then flew them on daily
missions over the Mackenzie Delta and
Beaufort Sea. One plane would fly through
the clouds, collecting information on the
types and sizes of particles in the cloud
droplets, while the other plane would fly
above the clouds and take measurements
of both the incoming (from the sun) and
reflected (by the clouds) solar radiation.
Although the RACEPAC team could
have visited any number of Arctic research
stations to conduct their work, they chose
Inuvik as their field site. Many members
of the RACEPAC team had participated
in a previous 2012 research campaign out
of Inuvik, and they were eager to come
Aurora College Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) students at Thebacha Campus practice their trade as part of their curriculum. Over
the years HEO students have developed roads, quarries and other infrastructure around the NWT.
Top:Lead researcher Dr.
Stephan Borrmann explains
the goals and methods of
the RACEPAC campaign to
Premier McLeod and his
colleagues.
Right: The two RACEPAC
research aircraft parked on the
runway at the Inuvik airport.
back and work at WARC again. While in
Inuvik, they gave two public presentations
about their research, and toured many
people around their planes – including
Premier Bob McLeod and MP Dennis
Bevington.
Also, they arranged a special tour for
our staff and the students in the Aurora
Campus Environment and Natural
Resources Technology Program, who had
the opportunity to go inside each plane to
check out the data stations and instrument
controls. Their outreach to the community
was appreciated and well-received, and
we’re looking forward to their next field
campaign in the western Arctic!
You can find out more about the
RACEPAC Campaign and their research
at:http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~racepac/
index.html.
www.nwtresearch.com
The Aurora Research Institute (ARI) maintains a collection of scientific research
licence information for studies conducted within the NWT. ARI has developed the NWT
Research Database to make this research licensing data publicly available. Currently there
is information online about licences issued between 1991-2014, including the locations of
work done. The database is updated monthly with information on newly issued licences.
ARI is also working through a backlog of data on research done from 1974-1991 which is
being made available incrementally. ARI is also digitizing our backlog of submitted reports
and other correspondence relevant to these licences which will also be available through this
site sometime in the next 6-12 months.
18
19
Aurora College Across the North
Aurora College is comprised of three campuses, 23 Community Learning Centres and the Aurora
Research Institute, spread across 1.1 million square kilometres. Here is quick glimpse at some of
the events that have taken place since our last newsletter.
Tuktoyaktuk Community Learning Centre Introduction to Office completion April 2014.
Jane Arychuk, President of Aurora College (right back) and Heather McCagg-Nystrom, Vice President, Community and Extensions (left
back) are pictured with graduates Robert Voudrach and Michelle Bourke.
Aklavik Introduction to Construction course.
Wekweeti Introdution to Office Skills completion ceremony February 2014.
New initiative will help NWT adults achieve high school diploma
Aurora College and the Department
of Education, Culture and Employment
(ECE) are celebrating two of the first
Northern adult learners to receive their
NWT Secondary School Diploma through
the Adult Recognition Model (ARM).
ARM is a process that allows adult
learners to receive high school credits
for learning that occurred either inside
or outside of a classroom. Aurora
College is offering a new course, Prior
Learning Assessment and Recognition
(PLAR) Portfolio Development, that
helps learners assemble the proof
needed to submit a portfolio for review.
If the review by ECE is successful,
learners will receive high school
20
credits. The ARM process is open to
Aurora College Adult Literacy and
Basic Education (ALBE) learners at
“We are very pleased to see
this new initiative is leading
to success for our adult
learners seeking to further
their education.”
Thebacha and Yellowknife North Slave
Campuses.
Jane Arychuk, President with
Aurora College said, “We are excited
today to honour two adult learners
receiving their NWT Secondary School
Diplomas. The ARM process offers yet
another opportunity for adult learners
to complete their high school education
and meet the academic pre-requisites to
enter Aurora College programs.”
Gabriela Eggenhofer, Deputy Minister
of Education, Culture and Employment
adds, “We are very pleased to see this
new initiative is leading to success for
our adult learners seeking to further their
education. The ARM process is providing
another pathway for adults to obtain their
high school diploma, opening the door
to further education and employment
opportunities in the North.”
Youth gathered in Fort McPherson for the Youth Education Forum on Mar. 13-16, organized by the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
21
Aurora Open 2014
Introduction to Office Skills completion in Fort Providence.
Aurora College Master of Nursing Practitioner student Rachel Mundy (left)
along with AC grad Lianne Mantla (not pictured) were the 2014 recipients of
Health Canada’s 12th Annual First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Award
of Excellence in Nursing.
The 16th Annual Aurora Open took place June 7-8 and featured more than 60 golfers. The event took place at the Pelican Rapids Golf Club which
overlooks the beautiful Slave River.
Staff at the Pelican Rapids Golf Club in Fort Smith did
an amazing job preparing the course for participants.
Mid-swing at the first tee.
Premier Bob McLeod was on hand for the Aurora
Open Golf Tournament.
Introduction to Office Skills at the Whati Community Learning Centre.
In uvik resident and former Aurora College student Tamara
Voudrach is working with the Communications Office and
Aurora Research Institute this summer. Tamara is currently
studying Indigenous Independent Digital Film at Capilano
University in Vancouver, BC, and will be helping to create
promotional materials for ARI’s 50th anniversary, the Aurora
College Alumni program and for college recruitment, among
other duties.
Based out of Inuvik, Tamara will be travelling to
Yellowknife North Slave Campus June 16-19 and Thebacha
Campus June 20, 24-26 to work on student success stories
and alumni profiles. If you have any ideas for interviews
or would like to become involved, please contact the
Communications Office at info@auroracollege.nt.ca .
22
Group ready to tee off at the first hole.
Golfers finish putting on the 8th green.
23
Alumni Recognition Program
As part of the Aurora College Alumni
Recognition Program, events will be
held at each campus during the month
of June to acknowledge Aurora College
faculty and staff who are also alumni.
Dates are: Aurora Campus – June 11,
Thebacha Campus – June 13, and
Yellowknife North Slave Campus –
June 19. The Thebacha and Yellowknife
events will be held in conjunction with
year-end activities.
To qualify for the alumni program,
individuals must have received a
certificate, diploma or degree from Aurora
College, or successfully completed one of:
Underground Miner Training Program (12
weeks), the full Heavy Equipment Operator
Program (15 weeks), or the highest level
of apprenticeship that Aurora College
offers (in any trade.) Any Aurora College
employees who would like to be recognize
can contact info@auroracollege.nt.ca to
receive an Alumni Data Form.
Sahtu representative on the Board of Governors Ethel Blondin-Andrew receives her Alumni placard
from President Jane Arychuk.
Special activities and events to celebrate
graduates of our many
programs will continue to be held
throughout the year.
Developmental Studies Completions
June 6 was a day of celebration in
Yellowknife for students in the School of
Developmental Studies, which honoured
those completing Adult Literacy and Basic
Education courses, Access programs,
and classes and programs at the Literacy
Outreach Centre. Students received
participation and achievement certificates.
In addtion, Aurora College’s first-ever NWT
secondary school diplomas were awarded
through the Adult Recognition Model..
Deputy Minister of Education, Culture
and Employment, Gabriela Eggenhofer,
addressed the group on behalf of the
Minister of Education. Former Nursing
Access Program student and recent
Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate
Tanya Silke was the guest speaker.
A total of 64 learners were recognized
from the Business Administration Access,
Social Work Access, Nursing Access,
ALBE and Literacy Outreach programs.
24
Aurora College’s School of Developmental Studies celebrated a completion ceremony for students
at Yk North Slave Campus.
Those in attendance were treated to three
video testimonials by learners about what
their experience at Aurora College has
meant to their lives.
A number of student and staff awards
were also presented.

Spring 2014 - Aurora College

Transcription

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