Indigenous Early Childhood Education (INECE) Advanced Certificate

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Program Description

The Advanced Certificate in Indigenous Early Childhood Education program is for fully trained Early Childhood Educators who wish to attain additional knowledge and teachings rooted in Indigenous worldviews. It is a five-course program meant to support Indigenous methodologies that may not have been introduced in other Early Childhood Education programs. The program includes ways of incorporating languages into childcare settings, storytelling and the link to literacy, and an introduction to Indigenous Studies. There are also two opportunities for land-based education.

Admission Requirements

Acceptance Policy

Strong preference is given to applicants who are Status First Nations, but SIIT programs are open to anyone.

English Language Benchmark

SIIT is not currently legislated to accept International Students. You must be a Canadian/ Permanent Resident to apply.

To be admitted into this program you must be able to understand and communicate in English (Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment of six – CLB6).

Tuition & Fees

There is no cost to attend.

What to Expect

Length of Program

This course is 6 months in length (195 hours).

Delivery Method

This course is delivered online three times per week, in the evenings. Hours vary from 2.5 to 4 hours each day. There are also land-based education opportunities which are 3 days in duration.

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is essential for academic success. Each program has specific attendance requirements that must be adhered to in order to graduate. For this program, the attendance requirement is 90%.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated according to the successful completion of all program components.
To graduate, students must achieve 50% in each of the courses with an overall average of 60%.

Graduation

If you complete the Indigenous Early Childhood Education Advanced Certificate program, you will receive a SIIT Certificate.

Courses

LAND 201 Land-Based Learning I

2 credits/30 hours

This is the first of two land-based courses. It is a more in-depth course that focuses on the elements of land-based education and what makes land-based education more than outdoor education. These elements include Indigenous worldviews and values such as respect, reciprocity, relationship, and responsibility.

INST 202 Indigenous Studies

3 Credits/45 hours

Indigenous Studies is an introductory course in which you will learn about who Indigenous peoples are, some of the impacts of colonization, as well as how Indigenous worldviews influence Indigenous science and art.

LANG 202 Incorporating Indigenous Languages in Early Childhood Settings

3 credits/45 hours

Language 200 will explore how language nurtures the spirit, connects to identity, and grounds the learner to its roots. This course will provide second language acquisition strategies that will support the teacher share the language with the children.

LITR 202 Indigenous Storytelling and Literacy Development

3 credits/45 hours

This course explores and promotes Indigenous storytelling and literacy development in early childhood education settings. It introduces students to the importance of oral transmission of knowledge historically and today, especially in the context of early childhood education.

LAND 206 Land-Based Education II

2 credits/30 hours

This is the second of two land-based courses in this program. This course builds on the first land-based course. Participants will also take part in a second land-based camp. The land will be used as a teacher through observation activities and seasonal calendar development.

Career Opportunities

Completing the Advanced Indigenous Early Childhood Education Advanced Certificate program will provide students with Indigenous based courses in ECE programming so that they might further their careers in an early childhood education setting. This will also provide an understanding of Early Childhood through an Indigenous lens.