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When the program was first incepted, the University of Saskatchewan’s Indian Teacher Education Program only had 24 students.

ITEP Director Yvette Arcand says now, in its fiftieth year, the program sees about 200 students each year, and over 3000 first nations students have graduated in total. Arcand says since the program began, the fabric of Saskatchewan has really changed, an example being how First Nations’ perspectives are being incorporated into the curriculum more often. Graduates have secured jobs in professions not only in education, but also law, medicine, art, and business because of the program, which is the longest running First Nations education program in North America. Arcand says many of the provinces Chiefs and Vice Chiefs are also ITEP alumni. The program has an anthology this year, which is a collection of creative writing and poetry. The students that took the class are now published authors.

To celebrate ICEP’s 50th anniversary, students had the opportunity to attend a traditional day of learning where they got to learn the background of several teachings such as medicine, Cree language, jigging, dancing, and birch bark biting. They also participated in a golf tournament.