Kenjgewin Teg to Launch First Accredited Program from IAESC

M’CHIGEENG FIRST NATION –Kenjgewin Teg is proud to announce the launch of its first accredited program from the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC), Indigenous Studies Program (ISP) – Certificate II. Beginning in September 2026, this one-year certificate emphasizes Indigenous pedagogy, experiential learning, and cultural teachings to foster a deeper understanding of Indigenous identities, governance, and worldviews.

The certificate is fully transferable and recognized as equivalent to the first year of Kenjgewin Teg’s 3-year Indigenous Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree, offering students a clear academic pathway forward. ISP – Certificate II will be delivered over two semesters (September to December and January to April) with a combination of online and in-class learning opportunities. The program offers courses that introduce learners to the Anishinaabemowin language, Indigenous governance, and foundational knowledge of Indigenous peoples and cultures.

Learners will engage in experiential, land-based learning and participate in Anishinaabe-aadiziwin, guided by Elders and Knowledge Holders, to explore traditional practices, storytelling, and cultural teachings.

“This certificate is an exciting pathway not only toward building First Nation community and organizational capacity in both urban and rural locations, but it also serves to strengthen Indigenous allyship and the active and ongoing practice of supporting Indigenous peoples, communities, and rights in ways that are respectful, informed, and rooted in solidarity,” shared Kenjgewin Teg President Beverley Roy.

This launch marks a historic step for Kenjgewin Teg. In 2017, the Indigenous Institutes Act formally recognized nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario, including Kenjgewin Teg, as the province’s third pillar of post-secondary education. The Act also created a parallel quality assurance process, enabling Indigenous Institutes to accredit and deliver their own programs. Kenjgewin Teg began this process in 2020 with a required organizational review.

In December 2021, it was officially declared an accredited Indigenous Institute by IAESC. The IAESC is the provincial body recognized under the Indigenous Institutes Act, providing quality assurance to Indigenous Institutes through its established standards and benchmarks. The 2026 ISP – Certificate II is the first program developed and delivered under this accreditation. To learn more about the ISP – Certificate II, please visit www.kenjgewinteg.ca/indigenous-programs