Red River College building pathways for Indigenous learners
As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing Indigenous achievement, Red River will launch a new preparatory program at the Exchange District Campus this fall: Pathway to Business, Creative Communications and Digital Technology Programs.
“We want to ensure Indigenous students have the opportunity to grow into all industry sectors,” says Rebecca Chartrand, Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy. “This new program will transition Indigenous learners into business, hospitality, marketing and communications, media production, and digital media design programs. We continue to look to community and industry to see where needs are and what we can do make Indigenous learners successful.”
Pathways are exploratory and preparatory programs that provide Indigenous Manitobans with the skills and supports required to transition into selected RRC programs by increasing their academic, personal, social and financial readiness.
When students have selected a career path and are ready to transition into a RRC program, Pathways offer the added benefit of reserved seats for Indigenous students, in an effort to remove the barrier of long program wait lists.
In addition to the newest Pathway, RRC’s School of Indigenous Education also offers a Pathway to Engineering Technology Programs (Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering) and a Pathway to Health Programs (Dental Assisting, Nursing, Paramedicine, Science Laboratory Technology, or Veterinary Technology).
“Strong program development at the post-secondary level is key to growing Indigenous people into all industries,” says Chartrand. “Our role as a College is to enhance the environment supporting Indigenous learners, and to build the bridges that fill the gaps to support economic reconciliation by creating opportunities for training that will lead to meaningful employment.”
RRC is fully committed to providing the student-centred and culturally relevant wraparound supports required to help aspiring students successfully transition from community to classroom to career. Pathway students have access to the supports all Indigenous students have at RRC, including one-on-one counselling, assistance with day care and housing, financial literacy workshops, academic and resource coaching, coursespecific tutoring, access to Elders, and cultural activities such as ceremonies and teachings.
“When I first came to the College and was a Pathway student, they provided me a stepping stone with the academic supports and the peer tutoring, which I found really helpful,” says April Seenie, Pathway to Health graduate.
“It was very important. When our people see our people working in a field, it gives them a sense of pride. Seeing more and more representation gives hope because you can say, ‘If this person can do it, I can do it too.’”
Pathway to Business, Creative Communications and Digital Technology Programs is a nine month pathway to the following RRC programs:
- Business Administration
- Business Information Technology
- Commerce Industry Sales and Marketing
- Creative Communications
- Digital Media Design
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
For additional information, including fees and admission requirements, support with applications or academic advising, email indigrecruit@rrc.ca or call 204.632.2483. Ask us about bursaries to cover the cost of tuition and books!
Future, current and graduated Indigenous students were invited to sit down with Red River College’s Indigenous Transition to Employment department and Akman Construction Ltd. for Careers in Construction, a round table discussion about Winnipeg’s growing construction sector. Held at the The Roblin Centre, the event also offered the opportunity to learn more about and RRC’s Indigenous Education programs and supports.
“Events like this really tear down walls and will make students more comfortable when they go into an interview. I really enjoy seeing students understand the human side of the interview, the job and the career, and how it really is a people process and not just a system.”
Learn about Red River College’s Construction and Trades programs and meet with industry representatives from Akman Construction and the Manitoba Construction Sector Council to discuss Winnipeg’s growing construction sector. Akman Construction will present their exciting new Indigenous Employment Strategy.
Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but RRC’s Indigenous Language (Ojibwe) students have found a way to not only make their own learning fun but to share what they’ve learned with others.
The stole was designed with symbols to represent The Seven Sacred Teachings, Métis culture, and Inuit culture. In the middle of the stole is the Red River College logo, which rests on the back of the neck. The Assiniboine and Red rivers are also represented throughout the design, which lays on red silk to proudly display the College’s brand colour.
