North to Alaska

A group of 16 students in Malaspina’s Bachelor of Arts First Nations Studies program are trying to establish a field school in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Alaska by February 2006.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The students, all enrolled in a fourth-year advanced community-based research course called the Applied Research Community Institute, launched the idea last year as a pilot project under the name Tuntsaluqw:Ta’tulut Tribal Trails. “This initiative is unique among Canadian universities,” said group spokesperson Monica Wysotski. “Our mission is to learn through the process of cross-cultural sharing. We want to honour Indigenous cultures and empower students.”

Wysotski said the group has already established networking alliances with institutions like the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, with Athabascan and other Alaskan First Nations communities, and with Alaskan Regional Corporations such as Doyon and the Tanana Chiefs.

“The project is 100 percent student driven,” added Wysotski. “We’ve formed five collective community project management teams, which plan and implement goals and strategies towards creating a unique cultural exchange experience. Along with two Malaspina faculty and two First Nations Elders, we plan to travel to Fairbanks, Alaska in February 2006 to meet, engage with and learn from University of Alaska-Fairbanks students and faculty, and Athabascan peoples with whom we will share our cultural diversities.”

The group is raising funds for the trip, and in the process, members are gaining experience and new skills in management, financial accountability, proposal research and writing, public relations and fundraising. “Collectively these activities are providing opportunities to master marketable community development skills and cultural awareness beyond the classroom,” said Wysotski. “We’re also learning about Athabascan social, political, cultural and economic landscapes.”

Despite some fundraising challenges, Wysotski said the students are committed to making Tribal Trails a success. “We’re guided by the spirit of community as we continue to strive towards honouring Indigenous cultures and empowering students,” she said.

Tribal Trails is in the process of becoming a registered non-profit society in BC. In the future, Tribal Trails hopes to be established as a First Nations Field School Institute in cooperation with Malaspina University-College, and to continue providing students in the First Nations program the opportunity to develop similar curricula with other foreign institutions and cultural groups.