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Rebecca Jamieson

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Rebecca Jamieson
CM OOnt
Born
Michigan, United States
NationalityCanadian, Tuscarora
EducationMaster of Education
Alma materOntario Institute for Studies in Education
OccupationEducation administrator
Years active1978–present
EmployerSix Nations Polytechnic
TitlePresident and CEO

Rebecca Jamieson CM OOnt is a Canadian Tuscarora educator and education administrator. Since the late 1970s she has worked to improve access to education on Six Nations of the Grand River, the most-populous First Nations reserve in Canada. Jamieson helped to found Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP), an indigenous educational institution, and has been its president and CEO since 2009.

For her work in advancing indigenous education, preserving culture and fostering reconciliation, Jamieson has been recognized with two honorary doctorates and membership in the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada.

Early life and education

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Rebecca Jamieson was born in Michigan, in the Eel Clan of the Tuscarora people.[1] When she was 2 years old, her family moved to Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, the most-populous First Nations reserve in Canada.[1]

During the time of the Canadian Indian residential school system, which sought to assimilate aboriginal children, Jamieson found that her people were not represented in the school lessons. This sent a message to her that the reality she was being taught mattered more than her life at home.[1] Jamieson felt the legacy of the residential schools, particularly Mohawk Institute Residential School, had caused lasting cultural divisions and that it was necessary for Six Nations to "reclaim education" as part of their recovery.[2]

Jamieson received a Native Social Counsellor Certificate from the University of Toronto, and an Ontario Teacher Certificate from the Ontario Teacher Education College, Hamilton. She received a BA in psychology and philosophy from Wilfrid Laurier University, and Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1978.[1][3]

Career

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Jamieson began her career as a post-secondary student counsellor with Six Nations. She then worked as a teacher, a consultant, and director of student services with the Grand River Education Office. She helped found Grand River Polytechnic Institute (now Six Nations Polytechnic, SNP) in 1993. It has since grown into a leading indigenous institute in Ontario. In 2009 she became SNP's president and CEO.[1]

Jamieson built partnerships between SNP and dozens of other aboriginal institutes, colleges and universities. These partnerships saw university courses taught at Six Nations, with diplomas and degrees offered through partner institutions.[4][5] In 2017, SNP became the first indigenous institution to confer its own accredited degree[6][7] which was also the world's first degree program for an indigenous language.[8]

When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its findings and recommendations in 2015, Jamieson and SNP already had decades of experience in line with its "calls to action". However, she cautioned against making indigenous learning compulsory, noting, "You can't indigenize something that isn't Indigenous". She has preferred to instead work through mutual understanding and respect.[9][10]

Jamieson has been increasingly sought-after for her expertise. She served as the executive director of the College Standards and Accreditation Council (CSAC), and on the board of governors for several universities in Ontario.[1][11] In 2017, Jamieson and SNP hosted the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Indigenous Education (WIPCE) with 3,000 attendees.[9][3]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Talbot, Adlea (23 October 2015). "Jamieson: All things, all people have a role". Western News. Hamilton, Ontario: Western University. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  2. ^ Duric, Donna (29 July 2015). "Conservatives give $1.4 million to Polytechnic for languages". Turtle Island News. Ohsweken, Ontario. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b Neumann Butler, Natalie (19 July 2018). "OISE alumna Rebecca Jamieson receives Order of Canada for advancing Indigenous education". Toronto: University of Toronto | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. ^ Walsh-Bowers, Richard; Johnson, Pam (2002). "Introducing mainstream psychology to native students whose feet are in two vessels" (PDF). The Canadian Journal of Native Studies. 22 (1): 82. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  5. ^ Johnson, Rhiannon (25 January 2018). "Six Nations Polytechnic partners with Western University for master's degree program". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  6. ^ Smith, Shawn (25 June 2018). "Six Nations Polytechnic celebrates convocation of language degree". sachem.ca. Sachem, Ontario: The Sachem and Glanbrook Gazette. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Six Nations Polytechnic now offers indigenous language degree". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. ^ Duric, Donna (6 April 2016). "Polytech gets $70,000 Trillium grant for indigenous languages". Turtle Island News. Ohsweken, Ontario. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b O'Reilly, Nicole (15 October 2015). "Inside the growing Six Nations Polytechnic". The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton, Ontario: Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  10. ^ Wells, Jon (13 January 2018). "Acknowledgment, reconciliation and reckoning: are we experiencing an 'Indigenous moment'?". The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton, Ontario: Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Wilfrid Laurier University announces honorary degree recipients". Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  12. ^ "The Order of Ontario | Ontario.ca". Toronto: Government of Ontario. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  13. ^ McKerlie, Ron (3 June 2015). "Board of Governors' Meeting, Open Portion Minutes" (PDF). Mohawk College. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  14. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (29 June 2018). "Roberta Bondar, Lorne Michaels, Beverley McLachlin among appointees named to Order of Canada". CBC News. Ottawa: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Order of Canada Appointments". Ottawa, Ontario: Governor General of Canada. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
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