Wednesday, November 2 at 12pm (EDT) Webinar with Erin Freeland Ballantyne, Executive Director of the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning—a northern-led initiative delivering land-based, University of Alberta-credited educational experiences led by northern leaders, experts, elders and professors. Located at Blanchford Lake in the Northwest Territories, Dechinta engages northern and southern youth in transformative curricula based on the needs of Canada's North. On the webinar Erin will discuss Dechinta's educational program, how they've developed over time, and the future of higher education in the Northwest Territories. More info: http://www.re-code.ca/en/whats_happening/179 Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/190259469

1. Bush UniversityCentre for Research and Learning

2. Why Dechinta?
18.8% of NWT Aboriginal
Residents have a high school
diploma.
4.7% Have a university degree
Non-Aboriginal: 24.4%
Highschool, 32.2% hold a
degree.

3. Dechinta
The majority of Northern graduates do not pursue postsecondary education
Dechinta asked: Why?
lack of support for kids
removal from cultural community
and context
no options to study what matters
no guidance and support
lack of confidence

4. So we asked..
What would your ideal education experience look
like?
On the Land.
With Families.
Critical Northern Issues.
Skills and Knowledge you can use now, or build a degree with.
Co-Taught by Elders, Professors, Leaders, Experts.
We designed it, and delivered it.

5. Dechinta Offers
Full minor Indigenous and Northern
Governance or original university accredited
programming, expanding to a full degree
( U of A, McGill, UBC)
Master’s and Professional Development
Courses
Inclusive programming for students and
their families at KidsU

6. What Students say
‘transformative’ ‘healing’ ‘life-changing’
‘For the first time, I have a voice”
-Crystal Menicoche

7. What the country says
"Dechinta Bush University near Yellowknife, which is reshaping
postsecondary education by integrating academic courses with
traditional knowledge.” -Globe Cover Story
See the world. But see Canada too
-Globe Editorial
Indigenous Partners, Not Prisoners
-Globe Editorial
TOP TEN

8. 5 years of ongoing evaluation and
data:
• 100% of Semester program graduates
are either pursuing further post-
secondary studies or working
• 306 students: ZERO DROP OUTS
• Oversubscribed, Underfunded
94 applications for 30 spots 2014-15
What the evidence says

9. Why does supporting northerners with degrees
matter?

11. Degrees of Success
Education level attainment is the
most significant co-determinant of
health outcomes, poverty alleviation
and increased earnings.
Labor market growth is largely driven
by the number of undergraduate
degree holders.
When Indigenous women have
degrees, unemployment decreases
to 5% from 20%
Between 2x as many jobs created for
university graduates than for college
diploma and trade certificates
combined 2009-2014

12. Dechinta is Building a Knowledge Economy in the
NWT
5M/YR core funding
440 Aboriginal university graduates by 2020
The leading global circumpolar northern and Indigenous
Governance degree program and research centre
Semesters in every region:
robust sustainable economic development
158 new regional jobs
This year 23 seasonal, 3 FT Employees from 4 NWT
regions, 5M investment since 2010
Hundreds of proud, capable skills NWT citizens, living
and working in a thriving NWT.

13. Dechinta Partnerships

14. Dechinta
www.dechinta.ca
@dechintau