Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Secwepemc Cultural Education Society
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The SFU/Secwepemc Cultural Education Society university program began in 1988 as a one-year pilot project with nineteen aboriginal students taking introductory courses in sociology and anthropology. In 1989 the University and the Shuswap Nation entered a formal three-year agreement, followed by another long-term agreement in 1992 to cooperatively run the program which focuses on making university education accessible to aboriginal students. Located on the Kamloops Indian Reserve, the curriculum offers an integrated university program with an emphasis on First Nations studies, research and social sciences. Students can earn credits towards diplomas, certificates, minors or majors in First Nations Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, or Archaeology. It is the first post-secondary institute in British Columbia that offers university level courses in aboriginal languages such as Secwepemc (Shuswap), Upper and Lower Statimc (Lillooet), and Nle7kepmx (Thompson). In 1991 an Archaeology Field School was established and is the only university program for First Nations of its kind in Canada that allows students to receive hands-on experience in archaeological site identification, survey techniques, site testing, excavation and cultural resource management. Campus facilities in Kamloops include administrative and faculty offices, class and seminar rooms, a computer lab, student lounge, resource library, reading room and a dedicated archaeology laboratory.