Mandatory indigenous course not a new idea – Winnipeg Free Press

February 20, 2015

Mandatory indigenous culture university courses are nothing new in Manitoba — the University College of the North has had them since 2005.

“We congratulate the University of Winnipeg on their efforts to work towards mandatory programming dealing with First Nations issues. They would, however, not be the first university in Canada to do so,” a UCN official said Thursday.

Last year, the one-credit course, tradition and change, became mandatory for all UCN students — its content is condensed into a single-day program all staff are required to take. And students in some majors have had mandatory courses as far back as 2005.

Here’s UCN’s course outline on tradition and change: “This innovative course introduces students to aboriginal traditional teachings through the use of sharing circles, group activities and other aboriginal cultural practices, and by working with traditional and non-traditional teachers. Students will learn about the historical and contemporary issues of aboriginal people and actively participate in various culturally based

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