The Indigenous Social Work (INSW) programs are nationally accredited and are now recognized as the School of Indigenous Social Work (SISW). Our certificate and degree programs prepare you to enter the field of human service as social workers across Canada with a special emphasis on working with First Nation individuals, families, groups, and communities. The Indigenous Social Work program is available at all three (3) campuses. 

Indigenous School of Social Work Commitment to Reconciliation

The entire Social Work program is focused exclusively from an Indigenous perspective. 

The mission of the School of Indigenous Social Work is to provide social work knowledge and to develop skills founded upon First Nations cultures, values and philosophies in order to work effectively in all settings. The main focus is to enhance the strengths of First Nations individuals, families, groups and communities, supporting self-determination. 

First Nations spirituality, philosophies, ideologies, knowledge systems and methodologies are the foundation of the School of Indigenous Social Work. It is our communal belief in First Nations self-determination, and our respect for the strengths of First Nations cultures, that maintain our commitment to ensuring that we, as faculty, administration and support staff, continue to develop, research, share and fully honour this foundation.

TRC Call to Action # 1

We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to commit to reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by: 

1. Monitoring and assessing neglect investigations
2. Providing adequate resources to enable Aboriginal communities and child-welfare organizations to keep Aboriginal families together where it is safe to do so, and to keep children in culturally appropriate environments, regardless of where they reside.
3. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the history and impacts of residential schools.
4. Ensuring that social workers and others who conduct child-welfare investigations are properly educated and trained about the potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing.
5. Requiring that all child-welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers.

Mandatory Course: Yes

The programs that SISW offer are: 

• Certificate of Indigenous Social Work (2-year) – all campuses 
• Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work (4-year) – all campuses 
• Master of Indigenous Social Work – Saskatoon campus 

Certificate in Reconciliation Studies: Optional course 

FNUniv has created an 18-credit (6 course) Certificate in Reconciliation Studies. Following the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Certificate in Reconciliation Studies focuses on recognizing the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and the need to promote healing, equity, and respect for/of Indigenous cultures and values in Canadian Society. The course will be delivered in person at one of the three First Nations University of Canada Campuses as well as through online delivery to increase the availability of the program across Canada.The Certificate in Reconciliation Studies courses can also be used toward various degree programs at the First Nations University of Canada such as Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Social Work, Indigenous Education, and Indigenous Health Studies.

Program Outline

This 18-credit program (6 courses) provides a core of coursework and electives from across FNUniv departments that will familiarize students with efforts to close the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations societies within Canada. Course options include class options in INDG, INHS, INSW, ILP, and ADMN. The Certificate in Reconciliation Studies will be available at our campuses and online. 

Core Courses: (plus two optional courses)

• INDG 100 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
  • This course is subject of Indigenous Studies with a survey of Indigenous peoples in Canada from their origins, through European influence and to the present. 
  • *Note: INDG 100 and INDG 101 can be taken concurrently with permission of the Department Head. 
• INDG 260 Residential School History
  • A historical look at the rationale, ideology, operations, and deficiencies of the Indian Residential School system of Canada including underfunding, physical and spiritual abuse, and student mortality. 
  • *** Prerequisite: INDG 100 or permission of Department Head
• INDG 262 Reconciliation and Indigenous Resurgence in Canada
  • This course explores different perspectives and policies towards renewing the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Settler Canada. Students will consider how the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action may guide reconciliation and Indigenous resurgence in Canada.  
• ILP 100 Introduction to Intercultural Leadership
  • An introductory seminar examining theory and the skills required for future leaders to lead organizations and communities in the context of the changing demographics and emerging labour force in Saskatchewan. Students will assess their attitudes, biases, beliefs and current leadership skills and create a personal leadership development plan. 

Faculty of Social Work Commitment to Call to Action 1 iii, iv and v: 3 out of 3 = 100%

3	History and impact of residential schools (theory)
	Yes. Our certificate and degree programs prepare you to enter the field of human service as social workers across Canada with a special emphasis on working with First Nation individuals, families, groups, and communities.Indigenous Social Work – FNUniv.ca
4	Potential for Aboriginal communities and families to provide more appropriate solutions to family healing (practice)
	Yes.The main focus is to enhance the strengths of First Nations individuals, families, groups and communities, supporting self-determination.Indigenous Social Work – FNUniv.ca
5	All child welfare decision makers consider the impact of the residential school experience on children and their caregivers
	Yes. The mission of the School of Indigenous Social Work is to provide social work knowledge and to develop skills founded upon First Nations cultures, values and philosophies in order to work effectively in all settings.Indigenous Social Work – FNUniv.ca

Compliance with CASWE/ACFTS Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change

At the May 27th, 2017 Board meeting, the Board of Directors of CASWE-ACFTS committed to ensuring that social work education in Canada contributes to transforming Canada’s colonial reality and approved a “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change”. “This is an important step in engaging social work education in the reconciliation process and supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action” affirms CASWE-ACFTS President, Dr. Susan Cadel.  Of the 12 actions articulated in the “Statement of Complicity and Commitment to Change, the following two are directed at Schools of Social Work

7	Will encourage institutional members to post a territorial acknowledgement on their School’s website and post a link to the CAUT guide to territorial acknowledgement on the CASWE-ACFTS website to assist Schools with this task
	The Regina campus is situated on the atim kâ-mihkosit (Red Dog) Urban Reserve, Star Blanket Cree Nation and Treaty 4 Territory.About Us – FNUniv.ca
8	Will encourage and support Canadian schools of social work in revising mission statements, governance processes, curriculum, and pedagogy in ways that both advance the TRC recommendations and the overall indigenization of social work education
	Yes.Indigenous Social Work – FNUniv.ca

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The First Nations University of Canada, School of Indigenous Social Work DID NOT RESPOND to multiple Indigenous Watchdog inquiries. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher, Julia Dubé