Aboriginal Teacher Education Program Summer Session Brings Communities Together at Duncan McArthur Hall

Over 50 teacher candidates from the Community-based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) at the Seven Generations Education Institute ATEP in Fort Frances, the Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute ATEP in Manitoulin-North Shore, and the Six Nations Polytechnic ATEP in Ohsweken are at Duncan McArthur Hall for the program's Summer Session.

This two-year part-time program is unique to Queen’s.  It is delivered throughout the year mainly in classrooms in the communities with a two-week on-campus Summer Session that includes an intensive schedule of courses, workshops, and events at Queen’s in Kingston.

As ATEP features courses that blend the provincial curriculum with Aboriginal-specific content and practice teaching placements in First Nations and Provincial schools, teacher candidates are prepared to become teachers in their home communities.

Moreover, if they choose, the teacher candidates can learn to teach in their native languages. The immersion track is the reason Nikki Auten, ATEP teacher candidate from Six Nations Polytechnic in Ohsweken, chose to enroll in the program.

My goal is to raise the standards of immersion education in my community of Tyendinaga.  I  believe that living language is vital to self-identity and a thriving culture and, at the same time, that academic excellence can be achieved through immersion education.

Community and community-building through education are essential to the teacher candidates and a theme of the ATEP program.

Sherri Oshawee explained some of the reasons why she completed the ATEP program and is now completing the Queen’s Master’s of Education in Aboriginal and World Indigenous Education (AWIES) program while working as the Community-based Coordinator at Seven Generations Education Institute in Fort Frances:

“Aboriginal students need Aboriginal role models to be successful in school and life.  Curriculum relevant to Aboriginal students and the Aboriginal world view, and enabling Aboriginal students to see themselves in their school work, can make a really big difference.”

In addition to lessons, class activities, workshops, assignments, and homework, the Summer Session provides an opportunity for teacher candidates, faculty and staff from the different community-based programs to meet each other in person and develop their professional network across the province. 

The teacher candidates, faculty and staff are able to form their own community, sharing experiences, teaching tools and resources and forging bonds that will last throughout their careers.

During the Summer Session, many teacher candidates also experience life on Queen’s campus for the first time.  Bonnie Jane Maracle, the Principal of the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) Summer Session, explained that:

“It is helpful for the teacher candidates from the community-based programs to realize they are Queen’s teacher candidates, and that reality hits home during the Summer Session.  They know they belong here and can take pride in being Queen’s graduates.”

Overhearing a student comment that it was "nice to hear so many different accents in the room" also brought the point home: the Summer Session is truly a coming together of different people, communities and nations at Queen’s University, through teacher education and the shared goal of educating future generations.

All the best to our Community-based teacher candidates for the Summer Session.
Tekwononhwerá: tons.  Mino-maadaaziwin.