Guided by community, grounded in relationship

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North Island College’s Office of Indigenous Education (OIE) plays a central role in advancing Indigenization, reconciliation and decolonization across the college.  

Guided by the Indigenous Education Council (IEC), which includes representatives from the 35 First Nations on whose traditional territories NIC’s campuses are located, the department supports Indigenous-led learning, institutional transformation and culturally grounded student services. 

The OIE has been a driving force behind new programs and the expansion of Indigenous student lounges and gathering spaces. These spaces, which are welcoming, inclusive and rooted in community, were developed entirely at the direction of the IEC and reflect the values and priorities of the Nations that NIC serves.

In 2015, the college formalized its commitment by signing the Colleges and Institutes Canada Indigenous Education Protocol at the K’ómoks First Nation Big House. The seven protocol principles continue to guide NIC’s work, from honouring Indigenous knowledge in curriculum to fostering relationships based on reciprocity and respect.

In 2021, NIC co-launched Working Together, its first Indigenization Plan, alongside the college’s five-year strategic plan, BUILD 2026. Together, these plans reflect the shared responsibility across the institution to support meaningful, long-term reconciliation.

As we mark 50 years of serving communities across the region, our commitment to Indigenous education and Indigenous-led change remains a foundational element in our journey forward.