Language partnerships
Video by UATE Storied Learning, KI Peruzzo, MA, Erynn Gilpin, PhD.
The Department of Indigenous Education at UVic partners with Indigenous communities, nations and organizations across BC and Canada to deliver language programs where they matter most: on the land, in the community and in the language itself. Our partnerships are built on mutual respect, shared goals and long-term commitment. Each one is unique, co-designed with the community and responsive to the specific language and cultural context of the people we work with.
The following partnerships are currently active for the 2026–2027 academic year. Programs are organized by language. For detailed program information, visit individual program pages.
W̲SÁNEĆ partnership
We are grateful for 15 years of respectful and reciprocal learning and partnership with W̲SÁNEĆ School Board and W̲SÁNEĆ College.
These programs, offered in partnership with W̲SÁNEĆ College, are designed to build language proficiency and equip graduates to teach SENĆOŦEN and across subjects, in the LE,NOṈET SCUL,ÁUTW̲ (SENĆOŦEN Survival School) and other community settings. Programs are culturally grounded, with significant land-based and experiential learning components. W̲,SENĆOŦEN,IST intakes are every two years and usually comprised primarily of students from the local W̲SÁNEĆ and lək̓ʷəŋən Nations.
- Language: SENĆOŦEN
- Partner: W̲SÁNEĆ School Board | W̲SÁNEĆ College
- Delivery: Face-to-face, in community
- Location: W̲SÁNEĆ College, Tsʼartlip, Brentwood Bay, BC
- W̲,SENĆOŦEN,IST Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency
- W̲,SENĆOŦEN,IST Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization
- W̲,SENĆOŦEN,IST Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Language Proficiency in SENĆOŦEN (BAILP)
- CELÁṈEN I SNEPENEḴ ȽTE—Bachelor of Education Indigenous Post-Degree Professional Program (elementary focused)
Stzʼuminus partnership
- Language: Hulqʼumiʼnumʼ
- Partner: Stʼzuminus Education Society | Stʼzuminus College
- Delivery: Face-to-face, in community
- Location: Stzʼuminus, just outside of Ladysmith, BC
- Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency for Hulqʼumiʼnumʼ
- Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization for Hulqʼumiʼnumʼ—Fall 2026
- Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization (BEDILR) - current cohort underway, next year 3 intake is Fall 2027
Tlaʼamin partnership
- Language: ʔayʔaǰuθəm
- Partner: Tlaʼamin Nation
- Delivery: Blended—online and in-person intensive weekends
- Location: Tlaʼamin Nation territory, BC
- Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency for ʔayʔaǰuθəm
- Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization for ʔayʔaǰuθəm—Fall 2026
Ḵwiḵwasut̓inux̲w-Haxwaʼmis/Nawalakw Healing Society partnership
- Language: Bak’wa̱mk’ala / Kwakʼwala
- Partner: Ḵwiḵwasut̓inux̲w-Haxwaʼmis First Nation | Nawalakw Healing Society
- Delivery: Blended—online with in-person summer sessions
- Location: Gwayasdams, Alert Bay, or Hada, BC
- Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency for Kwakʼwala—Fall 2026
- Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization for Kwakʼwala—Fall 2027
Mowachaht/Muchalaht partnership
- Language: Nuučaan̓uɬ
- Partner: Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, UVic Continuing Studies, School District 84
- Delivery: Blended (online and face-to-face)
- Location: Tsaxana, Gold River, BC
This partnership includes Continuing Studies and School District 84 as co-delivery partners.
Contact: CILR@uvic.ca
- Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization—Fall 2026
- Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization—Fall 2027
Iskut Nation partnership
- Language: Tāłtān
- Partner: Iskut Nation
- Delivery: Blended—online and face-to-face
- Location: Iskut, BC (blended delivery)
- Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency for Tāłtān—Fall 2026
- Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization—Fall 2027
- Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization (BEDILR)—Fall 2028
Pirurvik Centre partnership
- Language: Inuktut
- Partner: Pirurvik Centre, UVic Continuing Studies
- Delivery: Face-to-face, in community
- Location: Pirurvik Centre, Iqaluit, Nunavut
This partnership is delivered in collaboration with UVic Continuing Studies.
- Aurniarvik—Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency
- Aqqusiurvik—Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization
Academic partnerships
The Department of Indigenous Education collaborates with units across UVic and with other post-secondary institutions to strengthen the reach and quality of Indigenous language and education programming.
Partner with us
If your nation, community, or organization is interested in exploring a partnership with the Department of Indigenous Education, please connect with our team. Our programs are designed to be flexible, community-driven and responsive to your specific language and educational goals.
Partnerships can involve:
- delivery of the Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency (CILP) or Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization (DILR) in your community;
- a full laddered program from CILP through to a Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Arts;
- co-design of program content and delivery to fit your community's language, culture, and scheduling needs;
- collaboration with local language experts, Elders, and knowledge keepers as instructors and resources.
The best first step is a conversation. Reach out to our team to discuss your community's goals and language context and to explore what a partnership might look like.
Program Manager, Indigenous Language Programs