An N.W.T. on-the-land learning institution says it needs more funding to expand its programming

An Indigenous land-based organization that delivers accredited post-secondary and research programs in the North wants to expand, but says it needs more money to do so. 

The Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning  held two panel presentations and community conversations in Yellowknife on Tuesday about northern research and education. 

The first panel consisted of past students and current faculty describing the positive impacts the programs had on their lives.

The main point brought up by participants was the importance of the work being Indigenous and elder-led, which made it very different from their academic experiences in southern provinces.

To obtain future funding for expanding the institution, Dechinta is working with charitable organization MakeWay to document its benefits and needs.

MakeWay program lead, Steven Ellis said part of the task is sharing the stories in a way that's understandable. 

"In order to drive public money towards these types of programs more, we need to demonstrate that people undergoing these types of programming are generating better economic and social outcomes in our communities," said Ellis.

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Ellis said considering the demand for education taught by elders at Dechinta, he believes demonstrating the need through formal documentation is possible.

"I know intuitively we can do that. We're in the process of proving it," said Ellis.

Dechinta faculty and board member Lianne Charlie also spoke on the panel. 

Charlie said they have to turn down students year after year due to a high number of applications. She said they'd like to increase faculty, campuses or staff in other regions to meet student demands. She said it feels incredible to witness and hear past student takeaways at the panel.

"They found something in Dechinta that they weren't finding in their southern institutions at all. If anything, they were having really poor experiences and then finding hope and support and love and care in an Indigenous-led learning environment in their home territories," said Charlie.

Ellis believes Indigenous ways of knowing, experience and culture should be more valued in a research and academic context. 

"I think there's lots of evidence to it that's grossly undervalued and we should be more explicitly resourcing and understanding," said Ellis.

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Ellis said right now, a bulk of research is coming out of southern academic institutions accessing resources to send graduate students up North. 

"Most of that money leaks back to the south as well as the expertise because it's those academics that are coming and getting the degrees and the eventual jobs in academia or consulting firms and so on," said Ellis.

Ellis said the MakeWay program will take their economic arguments and findings to policymakers in Yellowknife or Ottawa to hopefully prove that the funding creates jobs and livelihoods.