Indigenous Specializations: Dreams, Developments, Delivery and Vision

• Published in: The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education
• Main Authors: Kinewesquao/Cathy Richardson, Qwul'sih'yah'maht/Robina Thomas, Kundoque/Jacquie Green, Naadli/Todd Ormiston
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland 2012
• Subjects: Indigenous education; pedagogy; Indigenous worldview; social work programming; Special aspects of education; LC8-6691; First Nations
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/jie.2012.16; https://doaj.org/article/2b32860537e44625b298b127497c2a25

This article documents the establishment of the Indigenous Specializations program in the School of Social Work at the University of Victoria. In the absence of funding for Indigenous programs, First Nations professors Robina Thomas and Jacquie Green developed the Indigenous Specializations program ‘off the side of their desk’. This article describes the process of creating a culturally specific program for Indigenous students in a mainstream university. Many of the challenges depicted in the article are ongoing, alongside various successes and victories for Indigenous graduates.