ITEP 50th anniversary Round Dance

The Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) kicked off its 50th anniversary festivities with a Round Dance on March 31. The night was filled with dancing, singing, drumming, celebrations, and community gathering and was organized by the ITEP Student Council. 

“Over the last 50 years [ITEP] has graduated about 3,000 teachers, about 50 graduates every year, which warms my heart,” said Yvette Arcand, ITEP director, in a speech that evening. 

ITEP was developed at the request of the Indigenous people of Saskatchewan beginning in the late 1960s. In 1969, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians undertook the Education Task Force, which developed a comprehensive review of the state of Indigenous education in Saskatchewan. This two-volume policy paper was further built upon in 1972 when the National Indian Brotherhood Education Committee developed a statement on ‘Indian Control of Indian Education’. This statement outlined the role that teacher education could play in connecting First Nations people to their culture, traditions, language, and teachings and was endorsed by the Government of Canada in 1973. ITEP was created and the first students began their program at USask in February 1973. Today, ITEP maintains its connections to the Indian Act and the original policy paper by retaining the word ‘Indian’ in its name.

“To have programs like ITEP that encourage students to come and be teachers so that they can go out and affirm the students in the classroom who are looking at them and can say ‘I can be a teacher too’, or ‘I can be anything' is so important,” said Interim Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement Dr. Angela Jaime. “50 years shows that collaboration improves, and that self-determination is absolutely possible. It’s the inherent right of Indigenous people to determine their own education and their own way forward. It’s important for our kids to see brown faces at the front of the classroom and feel affirmed, to see their culture, to hear the drum, to go to gatherings, to be a part of community.”

Graduates of ITEP have taken on leadership roles in teaching, administration, Indigenous and non-Indigenous governance. The alumni have also been instrumental in providing culturally appropriate educational opportunities for their children, fulfilling the dream and promise of “Indian Control of Indian Education”. 

“ITEP is the first program in the world for First Nations and Indian people to take on the role of Indian control of Indian education so their kids could have First Nations teachers in the classroom. After this long of a time, it’s so good to see that the names of the people coming to ITEP are the same names of the people of families that started in 1972,” said Orest Murawsky, who was the director of ITEP for 30 years, beginning in the 1980s. 

Alumni who had graduated from the program over the 50 years were honoured throughout the evening. In attendance were Judy Pelly and Elizabeth Ahenakew, both of whom were a part of the first enrolment in February 1973. Elizabeth Ahenakew currently works as an Elder at E.D. Feehan high school and with the Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre Circle of Voices program for youth. Judy Pelly was recently recognized for her community service and dedication to the profession on the College of Education Wall of Honour. Ahenakew credits the skills she learned at ITEP for being able to pass knowledge on to the next generation.  

“What I’m trying to do is pave a way for students to utilize the traditional way of ceremony, the traditional ways of teaching so that if they ever want to participate in culture and ceremony, they have the basic knowledge,” said Ahenakew. 

Current ITEP Student Council president Kaythean Ballantyne encouraged the youth and high school students in attendance to apply to ITEP when thinking about next career steps.  

“The ITEP program is full of love, they come at you with open arms. And it gives you an experience of a lifetime. ITEP then, ITEP now, ITEP forever,” said Ballantyne.  

The Round Dance was sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President Indigenous Engagement, the College of Education, the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, and St. Thomas More College.  

To continue celebrating the 50th year of the program, ITEP is hosting an alumni golf tournament at Dakota Dunes Resort on July 6, and a Culture, Language, Traditional Teaching and Learning Gathering and Banquet on July 7.  

For more information, visit the ITEP website.