Indigenous Olds College

National Indigenous People’s Day: 

June 21 is National Indigenous People’s Day, a day to celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples!

Let’s talk and listen

Take the time to Join the host of the 8th Fire series, Wab Kinew, as he takes a walk through the history of the troubled relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.

8th Fire, episodes 1-4

Calls to Action

Read the Calls to Action

Take note that Actions 62 - 65 are directly related to education.  Tell us an Action that stands out to you and how you are committed to building a positive relationship. Stay in the know, Sign up for the Academica Indigenous Top Ten

Take a UofA course 

Indigenous Canada is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.

Meet Doreen Bergum

Doreen Bergum is currently the Métis Elder/Knowledge Keeper for the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.

Born in an era when it was illegal to express and practice her Métis culture. She is proud to educate and share her joy of being Métis .

As an Elder/Knowledge Keeper for the Métis Nation, she opens conferences, meetings and Cultural Events with Prayer. Sharing the wisdom and Culture of her Métis ancestors Doreen teaches Jigging, beading, moccasin making and capote making.

Her drive comes from her commitment to teaching her Métis Culture to the youth, as an important part of our Canadian History and in maintaining the Métis Culture for Future Generations.

Meet one of our many deserving graduates, Lynette Proulx 

What are you planning now that you have graduated?

I plan on going to the University of Lethbridge taking an agricultural studies post-diploma program in a bachelor’s degree program. Not 100% sure on the minors but considering agricultural enterprise management and indigenous business. When complete, the end goal is to work for Lytton First Nation, my home Band with their agricultural studies. For the summer I am currently working for LFN where they are doing some ground-breaking programs right now around food sustainability. I’m really excited for this program as I was part of the first meetings in the planning stages 3 years ago and now, I’m working as a gardener and food planner plus other future planning project for LFN Food Hub or YeKm (planting). The branding for the LFN Food Hub is YeKm meaning planting in Nlaka'pamuxtsn. This is an exciting year for YeKm as it’s the ground-breaking year where vegetable crops are being planted, planting and harvesting crew has been put together and the processing facility is in the works to create value added products and shelf life to the perishable foods.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of every milestone I have overcome. From graduating high school, bull riding, going back to post secondary 10 years later to graduate from SIAST with a certificate in cooking then achieving a Red Seal in the trade in 2015. Making the National Skills Canada Competition twice. And most recently graduating from Olds College. 

School has never been easy for me. I barely graduated from high school as by the last year I just gave up. I put in so much effort from grade 8-11 to prove the teacher wrong and honestly get off my back for getting extra help. Which I honestly needed but who likes to be labelled and lose break times for the help. I did my best and did receive academic and effort honor roll almost every term until grade 12 and I just lost the drive as at that point in my life I never wanted to go to any post secondary education. I had to fight for every mark I just burnt out and wanted out to start life. Well, little did I know those grade 12 marks will haunt you forever. Once I graduated, ranching and rodeos was my path until I felt I needed a life choice change and ended up cooking for our grandparents which led to the first round of post secondary at SIAST in Moose Jaw. Here is where I learned how to study and how to focus with the help for the indigenous consular Rosemarie Zaba Stewart. With her help I made it through the cooking program at the top of my class. Without the help they offered I don’t think I would have done so well. 

The next journey to Olds College was brought on by becoming a single mother and knowing I needed to have a career in a field I love to support my daughter to her fullest. What better program than the Olds Colleges Agricultural Management, major Agricommerce. Cooking school was something because that was a trade school with a lot of hands on and only required grade 10 back then. I was scared to say the least. I had a cooking instructor work with me on giving extra time to finish tests now this is a more in-depth program and two years long. 

With Olds College's help and help from Jodi-lynn and her team I was able to get the help I needed to successfully graduate from olds college with distinction.

Grade school is a narrow path that can make it hard to focus on the end goals as it is only the beginning. Never let the beginning define you. The journey creates your present. 

PS. So ironically every stage of school I have been a chosen role model. 1997 – grade 7 Barriere elementary school First Nation role model campaign for school district #73 included Kamloops they created 3 or 5 posted and selected First Nations from every school in the district from grade 7 to 12, I was one. 2015? Calendar for SIAST Rosemarie selected me for their Indigenous calendar. I was January that year lol

Oki, Tannishi, Tawâw

Check out these amazing Indigenous artists

Singers/Songwriters

• 2020 JUNO Award winner, Celeigh Cardinal

• Metis Folk Singer and Songwriter - Amanda Rheaume

• Alberta Metis Fest 2021

Art

• Follow Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society and meet a new artist each month!

• Indigenous Tourism Alberta, supporting indigenous artists across alberta: 

• Alberta Architect Douglas Cardinal

• Take the art walk - and be sure to stop at the Cornerstone Art Commons

• Local Artist Dennis J Weber

Dance

• First Nations University of Canada Powwow

• Jiggers

Books

Find inspiration

• Calgary Herald Bannock
• 12 Canadian Indigenous Recipes to try
• Metis Cookbook
• Or try Candice Cappo’s favorite!
  • Baked Bannock
  • 6 Cups flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 ½ Tbsp baking powder
  • Blend all dry ingredients and add 
  • ¼ Cup lard
  • Make a well in the centre
  • Add water/milk mixture
  • Add 3-4 cups - start with 2 cups milk with 1 cup of water.  Then add water as needed. Mix with a fork until mixed.  Do not over kneed!
  • Bake at 400 for 30 minutes 

Do you know the 7 Sacred Teachings?

The seven sacred teachings are Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, and Truth. Each teaching honours one of the basic virtues intrinsic to a full and healthy life. Each teaching is represented by an animal.

Have a listen!

Did you know that There are around 70 distinct Indigenous languages in Canada, falling into 12 separate language families.

Olds College has officially signed the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Indigenous Protocol that was developed by CICan with its members and partners in the Indigenous communities. Founded on seven principles, the protocol underscores the importance of structures and approaches required to address Indigenous peoples’ learning needs and support self-determination and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities. 

CICan member organizations who sign on to the protocol:

1. Commit to making Indigenous education a priority

2. Ensure governance structures recognize and respect Indigenous peoples

3. Implement intellectual and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples through curriculum and learning approaches relevant to learners and communities

4. Support students and employees to increase understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples

5. Commit to increasing the number of Indigenous employees with ongoing appointments throughout the institution, including Indigenous senior administrators

6. Establish Indigenous-centred holistic services and learning environments for learner success

7. Build relationships and be accountable to Indigenous communities in support of self-determination through education, training and applied research