The Wabanaki Governance Program will offer a Certificate and Diploma option, with the goal to develop culturally competent leaders equipped with an understanding of treaty rights, policies, Wabanaki cultures, languages, and worldviews. Students will develop leadership skills rooted in Wabanaki principles, learn to conceptualize self-governance, and advocate for policies supporting Indigenous rights and sustainable development.Through community-based projects, students will apply leadership theories and develop organizational behaviour practices that are inclusive and culturally responsive. This program also emphasizes the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultural practices, preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to their communities and inspire positive change.

The Certificate option will consist of 8 core courses (24 ch), while the Diploma will include all of the Certificate courses and an additional 12 courses for a total of 60 ch, to provide a more in-depth offering.

The Wabanaki Governance Program is designed for a diverse range of individuals committed to enhancing their leadership skills and governance expertise within Indigenous communities and organizations. The target clientele includes aspiring and current Indigenous leaders, community organizers, and professionals working in sectors such as education, health, social services, and government.

This program is beneficial for those who want to strengthen their understanding of traditional governance models, contemporary political issues, and strategies for sustainable development. By integrating Indigenous knowledge systems with modern leadership practices, the diploma aims to empower participants to effectively address community challenges, advocate for self-determination, and drive positive social change.

The Wabanaki Governance programs will be of particular interest to individuals with connection to Indigenous communities or organizations who are passionate about strengthening Indigenous governance, leadership, and cultural preservation.

Wabanaki Governance Certificate: Students may be professionals, currently working in, or aspiring to work in leadership capacity within Indigenous communities or organizations. The Certificate will consist of 8 courses, which can be taken online through synchronous delivery to allow for flexibility for working professionals.

Wabanaki Governance Diploma: Students may be professionals, currently working in, or aspiring to work in a leadership capacity within Indigenous communities or organizations. The Diploma will build on the Certificate, with more in-depth study, and will consist of an additional 12 courses.

Applicants must meet the academic and other prerequisites for the Wabanaki Governance Certificate and Diploma, as outlined below, or must qualify as mature students under UNB calendar regulations.

The Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre offers credit courses leading to a Certificate and a Diploma in Wabanaki Governance. Students may take these programs on a part-time or full-time basis and may choose entry directly into the Certificate or Diploma options or may complete the Certificate and Diploma consecutively. All courses for the certificate are diploma-credit courses. Individuals who successfully complete certificate courses and who are subsequently admitted to a diploma, or a degree program normally will receive credit towards a degree for those courses normally acceptable for credit in the particular degree program.

The Wabanaki Governance program is flexibly designed to provide individuals, especially working adults, with an opportunity to work towards an academic goal. Participants enrolled in the Wabanaki Governance programs will have an opportunity to study leadership and administrative skills, laws, policies, and practices governing the operations of First Nations and the Canadian state, historical, social, and political knowledge and traditional and cultural concepts of community building, governance and leadership. The Wabanaki Governance Programs will focus on Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq communities of the Atlantic region.

The Wabanaki Governance programs will be of particular interest to individuals with connection to Indigenous communities who are passionate about strengthening Indigenous governance, leadership, and cultural preservation.

Specifically, those who are seeking to serve in leadership roles within their communities, such as band councils, governance bodies, or grassroots organizations, who want to develop their skills in governance, policy-making, and community-building; community advocates who are committed to advancing Indigenous rights, self-determination, and sovereignty who are eager to contribute to reconciliation efforts and social justice initiatives; cultural knowledge keepers who are involved in or want to support the reclamation and preservation of Indigenous cultural practices, languages, and knowledge systems as foundational to governance; youth and emerging professionals who are interested in learning about governance from an Indigenous perspective and are motivated to shape the future of their communities; policy makers and administrators who are working in government, education, or non-profit sectors and want to deepen their understanding of Indigenous governance to better support and collaborate with Indigenous nations.

The courses in the certificate and diploma programs are presented at the undergraduate level of study and provide a framework for 5 theoretical analyses of general principles of governance through land-based learning, practical community applications, lectures, discussions and individual study.

1. Each student applying to the Wabanaki Governance Certificate or Diploma program must receive the prior approval of the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre. The programs are not necessarily designed for completion in one year. There may be variations with course offerings and prerequisites.
2. Each student applying to the Wabanaki Governance Certificate or Diploma program must submit a personal statement that addresses the following:
   • Describe your relationship with and connection to an Indigenous community or nation, and how this connection has shaped your personal or professional life.Explain your interest in Indigenous governance and leadership, highlighting any relevant experiences where you have demonstrated leadership or worked within a community setting.
   • Share what you hope to gain from the Wabanaki Governance Program and how you plan to apply this knowledge to support Indigenous self-governance, leadership, or community development.
   • Discuss your passion for reclaiming Indigenous culture and knowledge, and how you envision contributing to the advancement of Indigenous rights, reconciliation, or governance through this program.
3. Each student applying to the Wabanaki Governance Certificate or Diploma program must provide two references who can address the following:
   • Speak to the applicant’s connection to and involvement with an Indigenous community or nation, and their commitment to Indigenous governance, leadership, or community development.
   • Provide examples of the applicant’s leadership skills, community engagement, or relevant professional experience in settings that support Indigenous rights, culture, or advocacy.
   • Highlight the applicant’s dedication to personal growth and their potential to benefit from the Wabanaki Governance Program, particularly in relation to Indigenous self governance and reconciliation efforts.
   • Discuss the applicant’s character, work ethic, and ability to contribute meaningfully to Indigenous governance, culture reclamation, or social justice.

Acceptable reference sources may include:

• Community Leaders: Chiefs, council members, or Elders who are familiar with the applicant’s involvement in Indigenous governance, cultural practices, or community initiatives.
• Supervisors or Employers: Individuals from organizations or projects focused on Indigenous governance, leadership, or advocacy, who can attest to the applicant’s professional experience and leadership abilities.
• Educators or Mentors: Teachers, professors, or advisors who can provide insight into the applicant’s academic potential and commitment to learning, particularly within Indigenous contexts.
• Cultural Knowledge Holders or Traditional Practitioners: Individuals who have worked closely with the applicant in traditional, spiritual, or cultural roles, and can speak to their dedication to the reclamation and preservation of Indigenous knowledge.

4. To earn the certificate and/or diploma, a student must have successfully completed the number of credit hours in approved courses specified for the certificate and/or diploma and achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

5. The MWC may choose to waive the personal statement and reference requirement for a student who successfully completes the Certificate in Wabanaki Governance when applying to the Diploma in Wabanaki Governance.

Wabanaki Governance Certificate: 24 ch

• INDG 3055 - First Nations Leadership Foundations 3 ch
• INDG 1105 - Writing in Indigenous Contexts 3 ch
• INDG 3682 - Kikuwosson/Wksitqamu: A land-based field course 3 ch
• INDG 3621 - Current Topics in Self- Governance 3 ch
• INDG 3685 or 3686 - Mi’kmaq Language I or Wolastoqey Language I 3 ch
• INDG 3684 - Aspects of Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq Culture 3 ch
• INDG 4194 - Peace and Friendship Treaties 3 ch
• INDG 3056 - Practicing Leadership in First Nations Community Projects 3 ch

Wabanaki Governance Diploma: 24 ch (detailed above) plus 36 ch

• INDG 3114 - Introduction to Workplace Learning in First Nations Communities
• INDG 4664 - First Nations Entrepreneurship
• INDG 4686 - Wabanaki Worldviews
• INDG 3922 - Technology in Governance and Leadership
• INDG 3052 - Place of Art in Indigenous Community Healing
• INDG 3695 or 3696 - Mi’kmaq Language II or Wolastoqey Language II
• INDG 4056 - Advanced Community Projects
• INDG 4665 - First Nations Perspectives and Organizational Behaviour
• ED 5627 - Contact and Post- Contact Around the World
• INDG 3623– Netukulimk: Indigenous Approaches to Resource Management
• INDG 3622- Indigenous Knowledge and Research
• INDG 3624- Indigenous Dispute Resolution

Time limit

• Wabanaki Governance Certificate: Full-time: 1 year, part-time: 2 years.
• Wabanaki Governance Diploma: Full time: 1.5 years, part-time: 3 years.

Note: The MWC may choose to waive the personal statement and reference requirement for a student who successfully completes the Certificate in Wabanaki Governance when applying to the Diploma in Wabanaki Governance.