The “WILP WILXO’OSK WHL NISGA’A INSTITUTE” (WWNI) website represents a community controlled educational institute that provides access to resources and information about quality post-secondary resources. In the mission statement, a reference is made to linking education to the “survival of Nisga’a language and culture.” Inherent in the WWNI website is the establishment of a community driven educational institute that provide accredited degrees and programs set in the context of the Nisga’a’s cultural identity. The WWNI website links its site to other University and educational institution in British Columbia, Alaska and Canada. The First Voices site  helps First Nations in language teaching and cultural revitalization.

Jacob Mckay founding member of the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning  Association (IAHLA) and a Nisga’a hereditary chief stated that “Only by learning to share did the Nisga’a people flourish in our rugged and isolated corner of British Columbia. Today, we are forging full partnerships with other educational institutions in order to provide top quality, culturally appropriate post-secondary education to everyone who lives here in the Nass River Valley. Increasingly, we welcome students from other parts of the world as well.”  My interest in focusing my project on the Nisga’a started when I read this statement. Central in Jacob’s statement is the importance of taking control of one’s own collective community identity. This is a central theme in my research project.

Webstie: WILP WILXO’OSK WHL NISGA’A INSTITUTE http://wwni.bc.ca/