Northern College marks Indigenous Disability Awareness Month

TIMMINS, ON:  Northern College is committed to supporting Indigenous learners and is reinforcing that commitment by participating in Indigenous Disability Awareness Month.

Stats Can reports that 30 per cent (420,000) of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples experience living with a disability or functional limitation, a significantly higher rate than the rest of the population.

“Our commitment to our Indigenous learners stretches far beyond cultural supports, of which we offer many,” stated Mitch Dumas, President & CEO of Northern College. “We are committed to making education accessible to all our students, regardless of their abilities, because we fundamentally believe that education is universal and should be universally accessible.”

In Indigenous culture, disabilities aren’t seen as a limitation, but as part of a person’s strengths and gifts, with many Indigenous languages not possessing a word for it. The idea that a disability is an individual deficit that needs to be managed, tolerated or fixed does not align with many Indigenous world views.

“We focus so much more on how each person can positively contribute to their lives and the lives around them,” stated Joseph Nakogee, Indigenous Student Advisor at Northern’s Timmins Campus. “The idea that it is limiting is really about perspective. There will always be barriers in life, regardless of abilities and we choose to focus on the common ground, rather than the exceptions.”

“It’s also worth noting, that for many Indigenous peoples, English is our second language, so this, in itself can create another barrier for learners,” added Nakogee.

By acknowledging Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, Northern College commits itself to playing a role in the five essential actions which define the month. To ensure adequate funding for all locations, to improve access across sectors, to engage with communities, to empower community helpers and to invest in inclusive policy and structural change.

“Accessibility is something we can all understand, whether we’ve dealt with being differently abled or not,” stated Shawna Foy who oversees Accessibility Services at Northern. “That shared understanding is incredibly important as to make sincere changes, we must first tap into the empathy of shared experiences and make real changes to support everyone, regardless of their background.”

“Accessibility is a constant process, where progress meets adjustment,” added Foy. “Full accessibility for everyone is tangible, with the knowledge that it is a constantly adapting concept that should be actively approached.”

Northern College is committed to accessibility for all and is proud to participate in Indigenous Disabilities Awareness Month, proud to encourage discussions on difficult topics, knowing that the institution will continue to align with the needs of everyone.

 

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About Northern College of Applied Arts & Technology

 

Established in 1967, Northern College leads the province in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It holds the top ranking in the graduate employment rate category in the province of Ontario. It has the highest employer satisfaction score for Northern College alums compared to all English-speaking colleges in Ontario (2023). The College has four main campuses in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins, and many Access Centres, providing post-secondary education and academic upgrading to Indigenous learners in remote communities along the James Bay coast. Northern College is a highly respected community and regional partner with nearly 50,000 graduates, including the Haileybury School of Mines (est. 1912); the College is critical in the region’s economic development and global mining influence. Northern College serves the educational needs of post-secondary, apprenticeship, and contract training, both on-site and through remote learning, as well as delivering academic upgrading and employment services. Its catchment area covers 160,000 square kilometres, roughly the size of France, and includes over 65 communities – 18 First Nations.

 

Media Contact:

Kyle Gennings (he/him)
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