UNB to offer degree in First Nations governance

New Brunswick education minister Donald Arseneault announced today that the province plans to put more than $1 million towards recruiting Aboriginals into post-secondary education. According to a government release, the money will go towards implementing various Aboriginal-focused programs in the province’s higher education institutions.

The government says the University of New Brunswick:

• Will hire an Aboriginal recruiting officer to recruit and provide support to Aboriginal students.
• Will appoint an Aboriginal elder-in-residence to work with the UNB Mi’kmaq Maliseet Institute. Funding will be used to develop specialized curricula to include a First Nations perspective; to develop math, literacy, science and social science courses for pre-service teacher education programs; and to develop community literacy and math outreach programs.
• Will establish a bachelor’s degree in First Nations governance and management as an extension of the existing certificate program. It will be the first undergraduate degree of its kind in Canada.

While UNB will be home to the most comprehensive list of programs, initiatives tasked with bringing an aboriginal perspective to higher education will be implemented at the Université de Moncton, Saint Thomas University, and New Brunswick Community College. The government release also says the education department will be developing a “provincial strategy and action plan to increase participation of Aboriginal persons in post-secondary education in New Brunswick.”