The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) and Great Plains College have formally committed to continue to work together to promote Indigenous-inclusive education.

The OTC and the college are renewing a strategic alliance which is also a pledge to continue to teach people about treaties, reconciliation and Indigenous practices.

The two parties first partnered in 2017, and have since created an Indigenous Engagement Committee and put on events to help advance reconciliation.

These events include a reconciliation walk in Swift Current and a rural reconciliation event in Warman.

“Great Plains College has shown a commitment to including Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in their college culture, and we look forward to continuing our work together to promote reconciliation through education,” Mary Culbertson, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan said.

The renewal of the alliance is also a commitment to offer additional Indigenous-focused student presentations, events and staff training.

“The decision to formally partner with OTC has brought more awareness and greater educational opportunities to our college community; our staff are more educated, our students more aware and our communities more involved,” Dr. David Keast, President & CEO at Great Plains College said. “We look forward to building upon the foundation that has been set over the past two years to ensure all those connected to our college have a good understanding of treaties, the treaty relationship and reconciliation.”

(PHOTO: Left to right, are Dr. David Keast, President & CEO at Great Plains College and Mary Culbertson, Treaty Commissioner of Saskatchewan. Photo courtesy of Great Plains College.)