The Faculty of Education offers a unique opportunity to pursue a career in Indigenous Teacher Education. In all schools, there is an increasing awareness of the need for teachers to be informed of the place of Aboriginal peoples, histories and current issues in their teaching. The first of its kind in the GTA, this program is designed to prepare teacher candidates to teach at all certification levels (Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate and Intermediate/Senior) and to meet the needs of teaching Indigenous material in appropriately respectful ways to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in a range of contexts. Graduates, through their expertise in Indigenous studies, will be equipped to respond to the needs and wishes of Indigenous students’ families and communities as well as all students in Ontario schools.
Considerable emphasis in the program is placed on Indigenous language skills and deep understanding of Native Canadian cultures. It is strongly recommended that at least one Indigenous language course be taken prior to graduation. To further support the Indigenous cultural component of the program, community organizations and schools related to the Indigenous experience may be used for practicum placements throughout the three years of the BEd program.
This program, taught at Keele campus, includes two required courses, ED/EDUC 2200 3.00 Issues in Indigenous Education, and ED/EDUC 2300 3.00 Pedagogy of the Land which will be counted towards satisfying the BEd Education electives requirement. The former will need to be completed prior to admission into the BEd program.
In the course of the three years while studying with the Faculty of Education, the teacher candidate will complete 30 credits for their BEd degree, including 6 credits of Aboriginal Education electives, plus 24 additional credits of Aboriginal studies either the Certificate of Aboriginal Studies at York or from an approved list of courses. Concurrent BEd students may count towards the 24 credits of Indigenous culture courses credits that are counting towards their undergraduate degree provided they are approved by an advisor in their home faculty.
Successful candidates are normally selected on the basis of education-related experience, references, university grade point averages, a written personal statement, and an on-campus interview. Prior to admission, students should have completed ED/EDUC 2200 3.00 Issues in Indigenous Education (or an equivalent course) with a minimum C+ grade. This course will later count as a BEd elective, once admitted into the Faculty of Education.
More information can be found in the undergraduate calendar.
How to Apply: Concurrent BEd | How to Apply: Part-Time Consecutive BEd
Professor Celia Haig-Brown's groundbreaking research with former students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School led to a documentary film.
