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Indigenous Education

Programs

The Department of Indigenous Education at UVic offers programs that honour your community connections and support your professional goals. Whether you are beginning a journey in language revitalization, seeking BC teaching certification or advancing your leadership as a graduate student, our programs are built on relational accountability, community partnership and applied learning that is deeply rooted in place.

Language partnerships
MILR program
Teacher Education
Summer Institute
Electives
2025 W̱SÁNEĆ BA ILP SENĆOŦEN cohort
The 2025 W̱SÁNEĆ BA ILP SENĆOŦEN cohort.

Indigenous language revitalization program ladder

Whether you are just beginning to reconnect with your language or you already know you want to teach it in your community’s school, we have a program for you. Each is a meaningful credential in its own right. Each also opens the door to the next, if you want to continue. 

Not sure if there's an upcoming program cohort in your community or language? Learn about current language partnerships.

Certificate
Three CILP graduates on campus for graduation.

The Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency supports Indigenous communities in creating new adult speakers by providing a strong foundation in Indigenous language learning and the methods that support language acquisition.

Diploma
A group of students and community members dance together with drummers

The Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization supports students through advanced study in language teaching methodology, revitalization contexts and practical skills needed to support and lead Indigenous language programs. 

Bachelor of Education
A group of DILR graduates are pictured together on campus on graduation day.

The Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization prepares students to teach Indigenous languages and support language revitalization in K–12 schools and community settings. Graduates are eligible for BC Teaching Certification.

Bachelor of Arts
The first BA ILP SENCOTEN cohort are pictured outside the Tribal School at the beginning of their program.

The Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Language Proficiency in SENĆOŦEN prepares students to become strong SENĆOŦEN speakers who can use the language at home, in the community and while supporting others on their language-learning journey.

Also available through UVic Continuing Studies is the Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization (CILR), offered in partnership with the En’owkin Centre and open to learners across Canada as a national online cohort.

Graduate programs

The 2024 MILR cohort is pictured in MAC D282 on their first day

The Master of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization is Canada’s only degree of its kind. Offered as an Master of Education or Master of Arts, it prepares community leaders, educators and researchers in language revitalization, recovery and maintenance. We also offer a four-course Graduate Certificate in ILR for language practitioners.

Teacher Education

The first cohort of IED PDP students are pictured together in the IED classroom.

ĆELÁṈEN I SNEPENEḴ ȽTE

The Bachelor of Education Indigenous Post-Degree Professional Program prepares students to become certified teachers with a strong foundation in Indigenous pedagogy. Students learn to lead in K–12 classrooms while integrating Indigenous perspectives, land-based learning and community relationality across the curriculum. 

The group of summer institute students and instructors are pictured outside together on a sunny day in front of First Peoples House, many are holding painted drums (2022)

Summer Institute

The Department of Indigenous Education offers an annual Summer Institute each June—a cluster of courses focused on Indigenous knowledge, worldview and pedagogy. Designed to give teacher candidates in the Bachelor of Education Secondary Post-Degree Professional Program an opportunity to learn from Indigenous perspectives and to make valuable connections to local Indigenous communities.

Electives

The Department of Indigenous Education is pleased to offer a series of electives available to all UVic students. These courses aim to give participants an opportunity to learn from and about Indigenous knowledge, and to strengthen their understanding of Indigenous peoples and societies.

Explore electives

Learning in community

We believe that language education is most powerful when it happens in relationship with the language's home community. Our undergraduate language programs are delivered on-site in partnership with Indigenous nations and communities, allowing students to learn in their home territories alongside Elders and speakers. 

See language partnerships