Bush University

Centre for Research and Learning

 Dechinta
Vision
Dynamic, sustainable and self-determining
communities where human capacity is rooted
in indigenous knowledge and values

Mission
To support a new generation of leaders and
researchers by providing accessible and
practical learning and development
experiences, respectful of traditional ways,
in a taiga bush environment
 Dechinta

• Is  a  single  semester  university-­‐credited  program  

• Provides  a  unique  land-­‐based  learning  opportunity  for  both  

northern  and  southern  university  students  

• Delivers  educational  experiences  in  an  environment  that  

respects  culture  and  northern  needs  
 Why Dechinta ?  
There is a recognized need to reduce the barriers
between Northerners and university education

The  majority  of  Northern  graduates  do  not  pursue  postsecondary  education  

                     Contributing  factors:  

•   Financial  cost  
•   Lack  of  confidence  
•   Distance  from  home  
•   Lack  of  support  
•   Family  obligations  
 Dechinta Offers
•  Courses  developed  and  delivered  by  Northern  experts,  elders  and  leading  
professors  

•  Inclusive  programming  for  students  and  their  families  

•  Cross-­‐cultural  and  inter-­‐

generational  learning  
opportunities  

•  Environmental  monitoring  
&  field  research  training  

•  Leadership  development  
and  mentoring  
Dechinta Adv"ory Circle  

Be’sha  Blondin   David  Hik   Stephanie  Irlbacher-­‐Fox  

Allice  Legat   Dr.  Glen  Coulthard   Ginger  Gibson  

Lois  Edge   Joanne  Barnaby   Joelle  Abra  

Erin  Freeland    
John  B.  Zoe   Shirley  Tsetta   Ballantyne  
 Who attends Dechinta?

•  Northern,  Southern,  and  International  students  interested  in  a  single  

semester  or  full-­‐year  university  course  

•  Business  and  community  leaders  seeking  to  foster  increased  awareness  

and  understanding  

•  Southerners  investigating  the  challenges  and  opportunities  in  Canada’s  

North  

•  Researchers  doing  subarctic  and  arctic  research  

 Dechinta Benefits
Northern students & communities

•  Increased  capacity  and  skill  level  of  community  

members  who  attend  the  program  

•  Higher  rate  of  university  graduates  

•  Increased  southern  awareness  of  Northern  

issues,  values  and  culture  

•  Increased  employment  and  employability  

•  Ability  to  develop  relevant  curriculum  and  

teaching  methods  
Dechinta Benefits  
Southern Students & Canada

•  Quality  post-­‐secondary  education  focusing  on  

northern  issues  from  a  northern  perspective  

•  Increased  access  to  cultural  knowledge  and  teachings  

•  Investment  in  Northern  presence  through  research  

and  policy  development  

•  Increased  Canadian  awareness  of  Northern  

knowledge,  leaders  and  thinkers  

•  Encompasses  the  North  in  a  strengthened  Canadian  

pride  and  sovereignty  
 Dechinta Curriculum
•  Designed   to   give   students   a   strong   grounding   in   a  
range   of   Northern   issues   and   a   deep   understanding  
of  how  those  issues  are  interrelated.  

•  Emphasizes  the  development  of  students’  personal,  

emotional   and   spiritual   attributes   as   they   pertain   to  
leadership,  community  and  vision.  

•  Traditional   Knowledge   is   inherent   in   every   course,  

respecting  the  invaluable  teachings  of  our  elders.  

•  Pairs   each   student   with   a   mentor   for   support  

throughout   the   program,   with   ongoing   guidance  
after  completion.  
 Dechinta Bush University  

Students,  professors  and  elders  will  create  a  self-­‐governing  community  

engaged  in  hunting,  gathering  and  sustainable  living  practices,  under  the  
guidance  of  our  resident  Elders.  
 Dechinta Bush University  

The  community-­‐based  model  supports  a  healthy  educational  experience  

for  all  participants.  

Students  will  be  offered  complementary  programming  for  their  families.  

Child-­‐care  and  family-­‐living  are  an  integral  aspect  of  Dechinta.  

 The Dechinta site  
•  Lodge   with   commercial   kitchen,   central   meeting   room,   and  
a  number  of  breakout  learning  areas.  

•  All-­‐season  accommodation  (lodge,  cabins  and  tent  frames).  

•  Dene   tipi   and   cultural   area,   Northern   library   and   photo  

collection.  

•  High   speed   wireless   internet,   satellite   and   Vonage   phone  

systems,  LCD  projector.  

•  Sustainable  Design:  composting  toilets,  solar  energy,  battery  

bank,  compost,  garden  and  green  house.  

•  Helipad,   float   plane   docking,   boats,   snowmobiles,   canoes  

and  kayaks.    

•  Lease   at   cost   to   demonstrate   the   sustainability   of   a  

permanent  community-­‐owned  program.  
 Dechinta Bush University
Dechinta  courses  are  delivered  in  a  taiga  bush  environment.

Field   Schools   boast   higher   student   success   rates,   provide   integrated  

community   and   educational   experience,   and   are   noted   amongst  
students  and  teachers  to  offer  life  changing  educational  experiences.  
Dechinta Pilot
Goals:  

•  Refine  co-­‐teaching  method  

•  Explore  Dechinta  site  suitability  

•  Test  curriculum  content  

•  Provide   feedback   on   subject  

matter  and  delivery  method  

•  Clarify  long-­‐term  goals  

 Dechinta Long Term  
•  Transition  from  single-­‐semester  
program  to  multi-­‐level  delivery  

•  Develop  research-­‐station  
capacity  

•  Maximize  opportunities  for  

hosting  research  and  post-­‐
graduate  studies  

•  Establish  independent  degree-­‐

granting  capability  

•  Assume  ownership  and  control  

of  program  site  
Dechinta
Current  Courses:  

•  “Our  Land  Our  Life”:  Dene  Self-­‐

Determination  in  Theory  and  Practice  

•  Writing:    Words    from    the    Land,    

Stories    from    Within,    Voices    for      
Sharing  

•  First  Peoples'  Community  Health  

Promotion  Program  Planning  

•  Sustainable  Communities:  Indigenous  

Strategies  for  Present  and  Future  
Generations  
 Dechinta
Curriculum  Development  Focus  Areas:  
•  The  North  in  a  Global  Context  
•  Land  Claims  and  Law  
•  Self-­‐Governance  
•  Language  and  Culture  
•  Traditional  Nutrition  
•  Boreal  Ecology  
•  Environmental  Monitoring  
•  Community  Research  Methods  
•  Mining   and   Exploration:   Business,  
Environment  and  Regulation  
•  Sustainable  Building  and  Energy  
Dechinta Next Steps

• Continued  Fundraising  

• Partnership  Building  

• Curriculum  Development  

• Co-­‐teaching  Gatherings  

• Full  Semester  with  Northern  &  

Southern  Students  
 Dechinta Partnerships
The  University  of  Alberta  –  
Canadian  Circumpolar  Institute  and  Faculty  of  Native  Studies  

Walter  and  Duncan  Gordon  Foundation  

CanNor  SINED  Program  

Institute  for  Circumpolar  Health  Research    

(AHRN  YK)  

Indigenous  Cooperative  on  the  Environment  

Dechinta Contact

Kyla  Kakfwi  Scott  

Program  Manager  

(867)  445-­‐1897  

dechintaadmin@gmail.com  

www.dechinta.ca