About

ABOUT US

The Indigenous Adult & Higher Learning Association (IAHLA) was created to support and represent First Nations Mandated Institutes in British Columbia.

IAHLA provides a unified voice for its member institutes, and strives to support First Nations Mandated Institutes through advocacy, research, professional development, and networking opportunities. IAHLA is committed to building strategic partnerships to enhance the quality of education available for First Nations adult and post-secondary learners.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to support quality post-secondary educational institutes that leverage language, culture and knowledge to create adaptable, competent, skilled citizens who are able to contribute to local, provincial and national advancement.

OUR MANDATE

To collect and disseminate relevant information to assist Indigenous adult and higher learning agencies in their provision of education services
To undertake research that will benefit Indigenous adult and higher learning agencies throughout BC
To facilitate networking and information sharing activities, such as conferences, meetings, and workshops
To support collective professional development and training opportunities
To undertake other support activities at the direction of Indigenous adult and higher learning agencies
To solicit funding as necessary to undertake the activities listed above

WHAT WE DO

The Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA) was formed in 2003 by adult learning centres and post-secondary education institutes in BC that are controlled by Aboriginal boards. This unique sector of adult and post-secondary education system makes a critical contribution to the success of First Nations learners in this province.

Working together through IAHLA, First Nations Mandated Institutes are striving to do the following:

Increase recognition of the institutes’ unique and successful approaches to community-based, culturally-relevant learning
Join public and private institutes as the third sector of the adult and post-secondary education community in BC
Contribute in a direct and meaningful way to First Nations’ economic and social development efforts, and to First Nations’ efforts to promote and revitalize First Nations languages and cultures
Gain recognition and accreditation for the institutes’ courses and programs
Coordinate the development, accreditation, and sharing of courses and programs
Develop and share curricula and credentials, particularly in First Nations language instruction and accreditation
Collaborate to more effectively use existing resources and increase opportunities for adult learners
Share successful approaches with public and private sector institutes to improve the overall success of First Nations adult learners
Make innovative use of emerging communications and learning technologies, both to provide more educational choices to First Nations learners and to enhance networking amongst the institutes
Promote the need for adequate, sustained core and program funding to support the critical efforts of First Nations Mandated Institutes

Executive & Board

IAHLA Region	Board of Director Member		IAHLA Institute
Coast Salish Island	Nancy Seward		Snuneymuxw House of Learning
Coast Salish Mainland/Lower St’atl’imc	Nadine Pascal	Treasurer	Ts’zil Learning Centre
Gitksan/Wet’suwet’en	Priscilla Michell		Kyah Wiget Education Society
Haida/Tsimshian/Haisla/Nisga’a	Dr. Deanna Nyce		Wilp Wilx̱o’oskwhl Nisg̱a’a Institute
Kaska/Dene/Tahltan/Tagish/Inland Tlingit/Tsek’ene	Cathy Warren	Vice-Chair	Kwadacha Dune Tiiy Centre
Kootenay/Okanagan	Tracey Kim Bonneau	Chair	En’owkin Centre
Kwakwaka’wakw/Heiltsuk/Nuxalk/Oweekeno/Nuu-chah-nulth	Bonita Wallas		K’ak’ot’lats’i School, Quatsino First Nation
Secwepemc/Northern St’atl’imc/Nlaka’pamux	Dr. Verna Billy-Minnabarriet		St’uxwtews Education Centre (Bonaparte First Nation)
Tsilhqot’in/Carrier	Beatrice Michell		Ted Williams Memorial Learning Centre
Coast Salish Island	Kendra Underwood	Secretary and Director at Large	W̱SÁNEĆ College

Partnerships

IAHLA is committed to working in partnership with other First Nations organizations, governmental agencies, and post-secondary partners in order to effectively share information and resources, collaborate on relevant projects, and promote a coordinated approach to First Nations adult and post-secondary education issues in British Columbia.

IAHLA strives to maintain a positive and effective relationship with relevant government agencies. In particular, IAHLA is actively involved in ongoing discussions with the BC Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills, with the intention of increasing recognition of and support for First Nations controlled institutes in BC. IAHLA also engages regularly with the federal government to promote the needs and priorities of First Nations Mandated Institutes.

IAHLA is a founding member of the BC Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Partners Group, which reflects a significant commitment by post-secondary education stakeholders in BC. That group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2005 on Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training, which is designed to facilitate collective efforts to improve levels of participation and success of Aboriginal learners in post-secondary education and training.

Annual Report

Read the latest IAHLA Annual Report, or go to the Resource Library for past annual reports.

BECOME
A Member

IAHLA is governed by Board members representing First Nations Mandated Institutes. IAHLA member institutes offer a broad spectrum of post-secondary and adult education courses and programs.

The IAHLA Board of Directors is now accepting new applications for IAHLA membership. For more information on the process to become an IAHLA member you may contact us.