Yukon College First Nations Education Summit

April 5, 2011

Yukon College remains committed to working with Yukon First Nations by hosting the third Yukon College First Nations Education Summit on April 11th 2011. The theme of this year’s summit is transitions; honoring the many transitions that occur in a student’s educational experience.

The goal of this summit is to create a forum for education professionals to reflect upon the challenges and successes in both secondary and post secondary education in the Yukon. Some of the objectives of the gathering include: to provide an update and dialogue with Yukon College stakeholders on new YC initiatives; share information on best practices on emerging interests or concerns; develop action items for the coming year, provide feedback from youth; and to celebrate partnerships

“This event offers our partners an opportunity to come together and see what we have accomplished over the last two years and come up with action items that our partners would like to see us work towards”, said Tosh Southwick, director of First Nations Initiatives. Some of these accomplishments include: the development of the Heritage Certificate Program that was created in partnership with Yukon First Nations; and the continued successful participation at the meetings for the President’s Advisory Committee on First Nations Initiatives.

The Yukon College First Nations Education Summit was inspired by a meeting with the Yukon First Nations in 2006. It was at this meeting that the First Nations requested that Yukon College hold a regular education summit to discuss important issues. This year’s summit will focus on the many transitions that students go through during their education. Some of these transitions include: college to work, rural to city, etc.

This year’s summit will be held in conjunction with the New Horizon’s Education Summit that is organized by the Government of Yukon, Department of Education. These summits are jointly organized by Yukon College, the Department of Education and the Council of Yukon First Nations.