Red Crow Community College facts for kids
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| Type | Tribal College |
|---|---|
| Established | 1986 under the direction of the Blood Tribe Education Committee. |
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Academic affiliations
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| President | Roy Weasel Fat |
| Location |
Stand Off and Lethbridge
,
Alberta
,
Canada
49°42′25″N 112°49′26″W / 49.7069°N 112.8238°W (Lethbridge location) |
| Campus | Urban/suburban Kainai Nation Blood reserve in Stand Off southern Alberta, Canada with a campus in Lethbridge |
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Sporting affiliations
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CCAA |
Red Crow Community College is a special college in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Kainai Nation reserve, which is also known as the Blood Tribe. The college also has another campus in the city of Lethbridge.
Red Crow Community College helps students from First Nations communities get a great education. It focuses on making sure that learning respects and includes Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing.
Contents
Working Together: College Partnerships
Red Crow Community College is part of important groups that help Indigenous students. It is a member of the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium. This group works to provide good education for adults and older students in Western Canada. The best part is that First Nations people lead and control these education programs.
The college is also a Canadian member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). This group helps colleges that serve Indigenous communities in North America. They work to make tribal nations stronger and improve the lives of Indigenous peoples. Red Crow College was started to meet the education needs of American Indians and First Nations people. It helps students in areas where it might be hard to get education after high school.
College History: How It Started
Red Crow Community College began in 1986. It was the fourth college in Canada created specifically for First Nations peoples. The Blood Tribe Education Committee guided its start. At first, it was a center for adult learning. Students could take two high school courses and one course from the University of Lethbridge. They also learned important study skills.
Growing the College: New Leadership
On January 6, 1992, Marie Smallface Marule became the college president. She helped the college grow a lot and offer more programs. In early 1995, Red Crow College became the first Tribal College in Canada. This meant that the Blood Tribe chief and council officially approved its own board of governors. This board then took charge of education for the Kainaiwa people.
In 2007, Red Crow College joined the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). This was possible because of its partnerships with the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary. This partnership helps students easily transfer credits between the college and these universities.
Celebrating Milestones and Achievements
Red Crow College celebrated its 25th birthday on September 15 and 16, 2011. During this celebration, several people received special honorary degrees from the college. These included Dr. Cynthia Chambers, Dr. Ernie Ingles, Dr. Jane O'day, Dr. Marinus Swanepoel, and Dr. Vivian Ayoungman.
In 2002, Red Crow Community College created the School of Kainai Studies. This school helps bring Niitsitapisskska’takssin, which is Blackfoot knowledge, into college classrooms. This means students learn in a way that respects and includes Blackfoot traditions and wisdom.
Overcoming Challenges: Fires at the College
The college campus has faced two big fires. On December 1, 2001, a fire destroyed more than half of the college library's books. It also ruined tribal artwork, journals, and a collection of over 2,000 books about Indigenous topics.
Later, on August 14, 2015, the main building of Red Crow Community College was destroyed by another fire. This building used to be St. Mary's Residential School. The cause of the fire was not known right away, but people thought it might have been an electrical problem on the third floor where the fire started.
What Students Learn: College Programs
Red Crow Community College offers different types of programs. Students can earn diplomas and degrees through partnerships with the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge. The college also helps adults finish their high school education and offers other community classes.
Focus on Indigenous Knowledge
A special part of Red Crow Community College is the Kainai Studies department. This department has a unique way of teaching based on the Blackfoot/Kainai/Blood worldview. It helps students learn about the lives and ideas of the Niitsitapi. This Blackfoot word means "real" or "natural" people. The goal is to educate Kainai members and others about their rich culture.
Health and Education Degrees
Red Crow Community College also works with Bow Valley College to offer the Aboriginal Practical Nurse Diploma Program. This helps students become nurses.
The college partners with the University of Calgary to offer a master's degree in social work. This program started in the summer of 2007 with 15 students.
Red Crow Community College also offers a master's degree in education. This is done in partnership with the University of Lethbridge. In another partnership, Sinte Gleska University works with Red Crow Community College and Old Sun Community College in Alberta. Together, they offer a master's degree in education that focuses on early childhood special education.
See also
