New Horizons: NORTEP-NORPAC Stories of Personal and Professional Transformation–Since 1977
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NEW HORIZONS: NORTEP-NORPAC STORIES OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL TRANSFORMATION SINCE 1977 By Dr. Michael Tymchak, Carmen Pauls Orthner, and Shuana Niessen 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION ORPAC NORTEP-N Northern Teacher Education Program-Northern Professional Access College 40th Anniversary Edition 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Cover Photo by Sharon Feschuk Other Photography credits: Herman Michell, Carmen Pauls Orthner, and Sharon Feschuk Layout and Design: Shuana Niessen Note: Some interviews for this document were conducted in 2006. Since then, some of the circumstances of those interviewed may have changed. SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC STAFF DR. HERMAN MICHELL–PRESIDENT/CEO JENNIFER MALMSTEN–VICE PRESIDENT OF LAURA BURNOUF–FACULTY MEMBER ADMINISTRATION Herman has been with NORTEP- Jennifer joined NORTEP-NORPAC When Laura began her work at NORPAC since the fall of 2010. He is in 1997 to become the Secretary NORTEP-NORPAC 20 years ago, her originally from the small fishing and Treasurer. More recently her position first appointment was to teach the trapping community of Kinoosao on has evolved into that of Vice-President non-fluent Cree class. Since then, the eastern shores of Reindeer Lake. (Administration). Over the course Laura has engaged in many studies He speaks fluent Cree (‘th’ dialect) of her nearly 20 year tenure with about how people acquire language. and also has Inuit, Dene, and Swedish the organization, Jennifer has seen In 1999, Laura was supported in her ancestry. Herman has been involved many changes. When she first came desire to take graduate level courses in Aboriginal education in different to NORTEP-NORPAC, the students at the University of Arizona. Her capacities since the early 1990’s, first still travelled back and forth between inspiration and dedication in this as a post-secondary counselor and their home communities and NORTEP field continued, and she completed then eventually working his way to to take courses in La Ronge; now, her M.Ed. in language and culture in a tenured Associate Professor at First students remain resident in La Ronge 2005 from the University of Alberta. Nations University of Canada. He full-time. has over 10 years of post-secondary In addition to teaching Cree courses at administration experience. He was To facilitate this change, Jennifer has NORTEP-NORPAC, Laura also teaches formally a Department Head of Science spearheaded fundraising to provide classes in Indigenous studies and and Vice President Academic in charge suitable student resident space. The Social Studies. In the past, she has co- of 3 campus locations in Saskatchewan. effort to meet the need for such facilitated the Education Professional facilities began with the renovation Studies and the Educational Herman studied at four universities in of the (former) McKay Apartments, Foundations classes. For the past two Canada. In 2008, he completed a Ph.D. and was followed by a series of other years she has taught a spring class at in Education from the University of student residence construction SUNTEP in Prince Albert. Regina in Curriculum and Instruction projects, which have resulted in with a focus on the inclusion of Cree affordable family residences for During the summer, Laura teaches at culture in science education. He NORTEP-NORPAC students. Where the Canadian Indigenous Literacy and graduated with a M.Ed. degree from possible Jennifer tries to incorporate Languages Institute (CILLDI) at the the University of British Columbia “green” features and specifications into University of Alberta. This experience in 1998 specializing in Curriculum her projects. Besides everything else has been life changing as she has & Instruction. He also completed she was doing, Jennifer also found had opportunity to work with other graduate course work in Education time to join one of the Master's cohorts indigenous language activists and, Psychology and Special Education hosted by NORTEP: she completed together, work to preserve Indigenous from UBC and a post-baccalaureate in her M.Ed. degree in Educational languages, create networking the same area from the University of Administration from the University of connections, and share opportunities. Manitoba. Herman initially obtained Saskatchewan in 2012. a B.A. degree majoring in Sociology Laura is originally from Beauval, a Métis from the University of Winnipeg village in Saskatchewan. She has three in 1990. He is an author of several adult sons and three granddaughters, books and numerous articles that are who are an inspiration to continue on focused on northern-based materials with her language activism work. Laura for professors, K-12 teachers, and grew up speaking Cree-Michif and did university students. Herman has an 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION not learn English until she started first academic passion for bridging Western grade at the Beauval Indian Residential Science with Indigenous ways of School. She was a teacher in many knowing. schools across northern Saskatchewan before coming to NORTEP-NORPAC. She also serves as the President of the Jim Brady Métis Local. 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Page iii APRIL CHIEFCALF–PROGRAM COORDINATOR/FACULTY CAL CHIEFCALF–FACULTY MEMBER EARL COOK–FACULTY MEMBER MEMBER (SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT) Originally from Regina, April has Cal is originally from the Treaty 7 area Earl is a fluent Swampy Cree from obtained degrees in Women's and in Southern Alberta. He has worked Cumberland House. His early years Gender Studies, Anthropology, in Northern Saskatchewan for around were spent in the traditional lifestyle, Indigenous Studies and Education. 14 years. Cal has a broad range of spending time on the trap line and She has worked for Regina Public teaching experience, having worked helping his father's commercial fishing, Library and the Saskatchewan Indian as an elementary, middle years, high along with his brothers and sisters. He Federated College (now First Nations school, and university instructor for the has one son, and one grand-daughter. University) and has worked for the communities of Far Reserve, Stanley NORTEP-NORPAC for 15 years. She is Mission, Southend, Sucker River and Earl has a B.Ed. degree and a Post currently the Program Coordinator and Black Lake. Cal began working at Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Indian a faculty member of NORTEP-NORPAC NORTEP-NORPAC in 2014 teaching and Northern Education from the and teaches courses in Women's and mostly TEP courses and some PAC, University of Saskatchewan. He has Gender Studies, Indigenous Studies, as well. He has a B.A. in Indigenous served the public since the early and Educational Foundations. She is Studies from the University of seventies, when he worked on also currently working on her Ph.D. Regina, a B.Ed. from the University of community development for the in Education through the University Saskatchewan, and an M.Ed. from the Métis Society in his home town. He of Regina. In her spare time, April University of Calgary. has taught elementary grades and enjoys volunteering with the university courses. He has served Piwapin Women's Centre as well as as faculty member and Director of photography and crocheting. (See her NORTEP-NORPAC; as an Indian and graduate profile on page 72.) Metis Education Consultant with Northern Lights School Division; as Director of Post-Secondary Education, Northern Region, Director of Health, Northern Region, and Director of Can-Sask Career and Employment Services, Northern Region, all with the NORTEP-NORPAC Graduating Class 2016 - 4oth Anniversary year province; he has served as Coordinator of the Northern Health Strategy and is currently a Special Advisor to the President/CEO of NORTEP-NORPAC, as well as Coordinator of Languages and Culture. Earl has been a board member of the Gabriel Dumont Institute and is presently on the Kikinahk Friendship Centre Board in La Ronge. His role with Kikinahk enables him to participate in the Association of Friendship Centres Front row (L-R): Christina Roberts, Stanley Mission; Debbie Fosseneuve, Cumberland House; Faron Toulejour, La Loche; Kato of Saskatchewan and the National Carriere, Cumberland House; Pearl Gardiner, Green Lake; Chasity Clarke, Southend; Roseanne Dery, La Ronge; Lee Nelson, Association of Friendship Centres. Montreal Lake. Back row (L-R): Ruby Laliberte, Ile a la Crosse; Taylor Natomagan, Pinehouse; Louise Apesis, Patuanak; Brenley He currently is a member of the Jim Natomagan, Pinehouse; Tracy Bird, Southend; Tina Moise, La Loche; Christina Campbell, Turnor Lake; Roberta Tomkins, La Ronge; Brady Local #19 and the Interim Area Verna Iron, Pinehouse Lake; Josie Favel, Ile a la Crosse; Heather Lariviere, Pinehouse Lake; Penelope Linklater, Pelican Narrows. Director of Northern Region 1 with Missing from photo: Valerie Natomagan, Pinehouse the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan. This enables him to participate in the Métis National Council. Page iv SHARON FESCHUK–FACULTY MEMBER DEBORAH GIBSON-DINGWALL–FACULTY MEMBER MICHELLE HOPPER–FACULTY MEMBER Sharon joined the NORTEP-NORPAC Deborah has been an instructor at When plans fell through for becoming faculty in 2006. She currently teaches NORTEP-NORPAC since 1988 and a a veterinarian, and after achieving Health 100 and Math 101, co-teaches faculty member since 1995. She holds a her B.Sc. in biology, Michelle worked EPS116 (first year communications/ B.A. from Trent University, a B.Ed. from in various jobs until five years later, writing), and tutors Biology 108. Her Nipissing University, a Post Graduate when she had the opportunity to teach favorite part of the job is working with Diploma in Reading Education and for Saskatchewan Indian Institute of students in the classroom. Disabilities from the University of Technologies (S.I.I.T.). Before teaching Regina, and an M.Ed. (C&I) from the for S.I.I.T., she had never seen a Before joining NORTEP-NORPAC, first Community-Based M.Ed. Program curriculum book and didn't know Sharon worked for many years held at NORTEP in partnership with how to develop a lesson plan. She was in health promotion in Northern the University of Regina.