Bruce Allan, of the Stellat’en First Nation, just west of Fraser Lake, has been working at CNC in Prince George for more than 30 years.
For most of those three decades, he has taught Aboriginal Studies and believes that’s exactly what he was meant to do in life.
“I grew up around the issues I’m teaching,” Bruce said. “I grew up on the reserve. I grew up in poverty. I attended residential school and so did my father and my grandmother.”
CNC’s offered its first Aboriginal Studies course in the early 90s. The College knew it wanted to teach on the topic, so they consulted elders from First Nation communities in the area. The elders gave the College permission and guided the process.
“The elders wanted to see was something about history from our perspective,” Bruce said. “They wanted people to learn about what we went through as a result of the Indian Act and residential schools.”
Still today, it’s the participation of First Nations elders that makes the program so successful and rich, according to Bruce.
“They come into the classroom and share their life experiences,” he said. “The knowledge they share is nothing you can find in a book. I don’t think there’s another way to learn it.”
Guest speakers range from traditional medicine men to residential school survivors.
“One elder in particular comes in and shares his residential school experience, where he endured physical and sexual abuse,” Bruce said. “He shares how that affected his life, and how he lived in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for 25 years addicted to alcohol. Now he’s back in his community, making traditional medicine, teaching and sharing his stories.”
Students are often shocked by what they learn and that before taking the Aboriginal studies courses, Bruce said, because a lot of people have biased ideas about First Nations people.
“They openly admit that they were racist and that the course changed how they think,” he said. “Many come back after graduating and say thank you for what you taught me. It’s quite amazing.”
CNC’s Aboriginal Studies courses cover a mix of contemporary and historical issues. In one class, students learn about the Indian Act, residential schools, traditional medicines and sweat lodge ceremonies. In another, they discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, missing and murdered Indigenous women, land claims issues, and Indigenous access to health and education.
Course material is based on real-life examples of First Nations in northern BC and Canada and is relevant to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Nicholette Prince, of Nak’azdli Whut’en, close to Fort. St. James, also instructs in CNC’s Aboriginal Studies department.
“From a historical perspective, it’s very important that everyone in Canada know what the actual history is,” Nicholette said. “And that the effects of this history are not just hypothetical. It’s had actual, real impacts on families and individuals.”
From a practical perspective, most CNC graduates will work with Aboriginal people – whether it be as a nurse, social worker, at a bank or any other workplace. Having a deeper understanding of indigenous culture and history can only help them in their work.
“Aboriginal people are more and more involved in the economy, and are a big portion of Northern BC’s population,” Nicholette said. “Having background knowledge is key.”
CNC offers an Associate Degree in Aboriginal Studies or students can take individual courses as part of their studies.