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Getting Ready for Graduation 2021!
Watch for it!  Kenjgewin Teg will hold a virtual graduation ceremony celebrating and recognizing graduates on June 30, 2021.  We are so excited and proud of the accomplishments of all of our graduates in the following programs.
  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma
  • Mshiigaade Miikan Essential Skills Program Certificate
  • Personal Support Worker Certificate
  • Aboriginal Teacher Education Diploma or Degree
  • Mechanical Techniques: Welder/Fitter Certificate
  • Shki Maajiinakiing: Pathway to Trades Certificate
  • Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Certification
  • Computer Applications Certificate
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Diploma
  • Additional Qualifications (AQ) for Teachers:  Teaching First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Children
Upcoming (New) Post-Secondary Programs for 2021-2022
Check out our website for more information on new intakes for the following programs (other post-secondary programs in progress are not listed below):
PSE Trades Additional Qualifications (AQ) for Educators
Personal Support Worker – Fall 2021 Pathway to Trades – Fall 2021 Outdoor Experiential Education (schedule C) – Summer 2021
  Renovation Techniques-Construction Carpentry – Fall 2021 Teaching FNMI Children (Schedule C) – Summer 2021
  Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Certification – Fall 2021 Teaching Ojibwe/Anishinaabemowin (Schedule C) – Summer 2021
Student Information Summary – April 2021
Student Enrollment  Dec-20 Apr.8, 2021
Pathways- Secondary School  31  23
Mshiigaade - Essential Skills  70  77
Maawndo (Contact North)  9
Post Secondary   78  3
Post Secondary-In Progress  25  83
Professional Development  36  37
Total Learners 2021  246  232
Retention Rate %  85  67
Delivery Model for Anishinaabe Aadziwin Teaching 
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions in effect, learners have been invited through Microsoft Teams to attend virtual teaching events with three of our local Traditional Knowledge Keepers. Virtual learning opportunities continued for the Anishinaabe Aadziwin program from December 2020 to March 2021 for Kenjgewin Teg’s staff and student body.  There were 14 Aadziwin learning opportunities with a variety of topics made available for staff and student participants. The student body included Pathways, the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP), Personal Support Worker, Master of Social Work, Indigenous Classroom Assistant Diploma, Early Childhood Education - Anishinabemowin, Pathways to Trades, and Kenjgewin Teg staff. In addition, Pathways to Trades learners had Wednesday mornings scheduled for their Aadziwin learning which first began on October 14, 2020. A total of 6 Aadziwin learning opportunities were held for Pathways to Trades students from 9-12 pm from December to March 2021. 

 
More Than Makizinkewin (Moccasins)
The Mnidoo Mnising Sharing & Learning Centre believes teachers can help by sharing our traditional knowledge such as moccasin making with our EarlyON Educators and parents, who, when at their best, can continue our culture and succeed in the face of adversity. The activity of moccasin making encourages us to ‘walk the talk’ both literally and figuratively by connecting us with our ancestors and closing cultural gaps due to historical and contemporary colonialism.

Moccasin making facilitates wellness and well-being for us as Anishinabek through identity, connection to community and with our culture. As moccasin design is specific to community and geographic location, identity is much like our Anishinaabemowin dialects, which vary based on geographic location honouring First Nation relationships. Moccasin making connects us to our community and is cultural transmission through sharing our Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Knowledge Systems in our communities.  Conversations that flow so freely in moccasin making help build respectful relationships. Creating moccasins further connects us to our larger family or “All My Relations,” known with our culture. Sharing our traditional ways and teachings, such as the original Instructions and sustainability of harvesting, are essential teachings learned in activities like moccasin making.

By continuing our traditional knowledge, teachers and educators can help to prepare the next generation of leaders. When taught through our Anishinabek culture, together with our Anishinabemowin language, teachers and all educators will be best positioned to ensure transformative processes in education.  
 
Skilled Trades: Highlights of the Timber Framing Project
During winter/spring 2021, Kenjgewin Teg hosted and completed their inaugural Timber Framing course in collaboration with Manitoulin Timber Frames Inc.  This 6-week skills development and training course provided a small cohort of four (4) participants with the art and trade of traditional timber framing. This skills course focussed on laying out and cutting traditional joinery of the timbers without any metal fasteners.  The course began in February 2021, and all four participants completed the course requirements. In April 2021, a traditional raising of the timber frame structure on the Kenjgewin Teg campus concluded the participants’ last day of their learning journey. The timber-framed structure is now part of Kenjgewin Teg’s campus for the learning community to enjoy.

 
2021-2026 Strategic Plan Development Update
For the last six months, Kenjgewin Teg has embarked on creating a new five-year strategic plan.  A strategic plan consultant was contracted, and Kenjgewin Teg is working with Eric Lockhart of Smith’s School of Business of Queen’s University.  Over 100 people (students; staff; leaders; community members; instructors/educators; organizations) have been engaged in the strategic planning process through focus groups, interviews and surveys through technology.  Kenjgewin Teg’s strategic planning process is summarized in the “project overview” visual shown here, with a final strategic plan to be presented to the Board of Directors in July 2021. 



 
The new 2021-2026 strategic plan will have an updated mission, vision, and priorities/pillars that will guide our Anishinabek place of learning to be responsive to Indigenous/Anishinabek training needs in the post-secondary sector. So far, the draft plan contains the following components:
  • Mission:   To build the capacity of individuals through learning opportunities, teachings, and language acquisition so that they will positively impact the growth and development of our communities
  • Vision:  We inspire students to find their gifts to further succeed in the world. 
Pillars:  Student supports & services (this includes an organizational model of wellness, student case management system); Program growth (this includes: community outreach, pathways, PSE programming, micro-credentials); Awareness & Marketing (this includes: improve our messaging, accreditation impact, impact across our region); Corporate Services (this includes:  governance, human resource strategy, IT plan, policies, processes, data collection)
Getting Closer! Organizational Review by the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC)
The first step in Kenjigewin Teg’s recognition to grant its own certificates, degrees, and diplomas is completing an organizational review responding to 25 standards and benchmarks identified by the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC).  While preparation and work began much earlier, Kenjgewin Teg officially started the process by submitting documents as part of its organizational review documents in September 2020.  There are several steps and milestones to be completed in the organizational review process highlighted here:


Kenjgiewn Teg is planning its virtual site visit with IAESC’s organizational review panel, with dates currently being confirmed for June 2021. With these timelines met, Kenjgewin is another step closer to completing the complete organizational review process and will then await a final decision in Fall 2021. We look forward to celebrating this grand milestone in Kenjgewin Teg’s history!
 
Organizational Structure – We’re Growing!
An updated organizational chart was approved by the Board of Directors on April 15, 2021.  Moving forward, and in alignment with organizational accreditation with the Indigenous Advanced Education Council, the structure of Kenjgewin Teg will have three divisions:  Lifelong Learning, Anishinaabe Aadziwin and Corporate Services.  The senior team of Kenjgewin Teg has worked extensively over the last 24 months for planned growth of the organization and its organizational structure; this growth and planning of Kenjgewin Teg is being done as one of nine Indigenous Institutes forming the new Indigenous training pillar in Ontario’s post-secondary landscape. 
 
University of Sudbury and Uncertainty of the Indigenous Studies Program/Courses
Kenjgewin Teg has held discussions and virtual meetings with the University of Sudbury during April and May 2021.   The focus of these discussions was on the potential opportunity to ‘transfer’ the Indigenous Studies program, courses, archives/library resources, including the possibility of an available ‘charter’.  Kenjgewin Teg, Laurentian University, and the University of Sudbury are actively looking for solutions and conditions in which these institution(s) can or cannot collaboratively prepare to support one another to ensure the valuable work achieved in the Indigenous Studies program credentialled by  Laurentian University, and delivered by the University of Sudbury  will NOT be discontinued or terminated as an essential program in Ontario’s North. Under the spirit of reconciliation and authentic Anishinaabe Aadziwin intent, Kenjgewin Teg believes we have a role to play in giving the Indigenous Studies Program and/or its courses a good home delivered for and by our Anishinabek people. Discussions are continuing on possible solutions for the future delivery of the Indigenous Studies Program from the University of Sudbury. 
 
M’Chigeeng First Nation Second Level Services
Effective April 1, 2021, M’Chigeeng First Nation began providing direct supports to all their students in the areas formerly provided as seconded level services by Kenjgewin Teg.  In 2008-09 Kenjgewin Teg first began providing supports for 11 First Nation community schools.  With changes occurring in First Nation education, as of March 31, 2021, all of the elementary schools previously supported by Kenjgewin Teg have now assumed delivery roles and responsibilities within their systems or have taken independent First Nation responsibility for the delivery of second-level programs for student success. 

 
Board Governance – February 25, 2021
The regular board governance meeting for the winter season was held with seven out of eight members in attendance.  Agenda items included:  oaths of office; President’s seasonal report; team award nominations; new student representative for the Board; accounts payable over $10,000; quarterly financial variance report; new strategic planning for 2021-2026; minutes for approval (October 15, November 4 & 26, 2021); quality assurance update; human resource update; review of the facility conditioning assessment report; Executive Committee appointment; and a special gift presentation to a retired Board Member from Aundeck Omni Kaning. 


 
Board of Director Retirement
At the Board of Directors meeting in April 2021, Carlene Assinewai was presented with a gift of appreciation for her dedication to service as a Board Member for 29 years! Carlene began her board member service in 1992 when N’da Kenjge Gamig was initiated as a pilot project.  Carlene has been a valuable member of the Board and has been a most reliable, honest, and faithful board member who acted with integrity and commitment in her many years of service to our communities.  Carlene is now officially recognized as one of the longest-serving Board members of Kenjgewin Teg.  She will be missed greatly for the leadership and organizational qualities she brought to the organization. It has been a pleasure to have Carlene on the Board of Directors sharing her knowledge, expertise, feedback, and direction on the educational and training needs of the Anishinabek people in the region.  On behalf of all of us at Kenjgewin Teg, we wish Carlene all the best in retirement!
Board Governance – Regular Meeting – April 15, 2021
The seasonal spring meeting was held with the Board of Directors on April 15, 2021.  In attendance were six out of eight communities.  Items on the agenda included:  Annual Corporate Filing update, President’s Seasonal Report (quarter 4), Job Description for Elder-in-Residence; Quarterly Variance Report, Organizational Chart, Board Meeting Minutes of February 25, 2021, Quality Assurance/Accreditation Update, and,  Annual Board Governance Training. 



 
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