The ThunderBlogs

Residents of the Musqueam urban first nation have confronted dispossession and discrimination from the government over the last 130 years. These restrictions have shaped the current situation at the nation, where many face poverty and prejudice. Nonetheless, a number of Musqueam members have enhanced their employment opportunities at the Native Education College- a cultural sensitive institution fostering academic training and community spirit for the aboriginal learner.

“The aboriginal people deal with social issues like homelessness and unemployment. We try to help them improve their lives here, “ said Gary Johnston, Cultural Coordinator at the Native Education College.

After 3 years since the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, civil societies in Canada continue to urge the government to implement it without much success. The declaration aims to diminish the gap of opportunities between non-aboriginal and aboriginal people.

Founded in 1985, The Native Education College has enrolled hundreds of aboriginal students- including several members of the Musqueam Nation- in their basic education programs, offering certificates and diplomas to their graduates. “Our Early Childhood Education program is the most successful one. This program has an employment rate of 100 percent after graduation. There is a high demand for this type of service in the aboriginal communities, and our program is well-recognized in Vancouver,” said Johnston.

The school intends to level out students who need pre-requisites to enter universities or teach new careers to adults seeking to improve their employment situation. “Our students on average are 30 to 40 years of age. Many businesses for the aboriginal people have diminished over the years, like fishery for example. We enroll many people trying to change careers because they need new jobs,” said Johnston.

Moreover, this organization not only provides learning opportunities to students, but also cultivates unity amongst Aboriginal cultures. The Longhouse that comprises the campus was built in accordance to aboriginal traditions, and it promotes positive energy and community spirit.

At the beginning of each semester, the college organizes a welcoming ceremony for all students following traditional protocols of the Longhouse. Students enter the college from a door carved in a cedar pole, symbolizing an abandonment of negative energy and the beginning of new career opportunities.

“The ceremony is an important experience for students. You enter the college from this door, and you leave all the bad energy behind you.  During the ceremony we play traditional songs and we dance to the beat of drums,” said Johnston.