Thompson Rivers University

Indigenization is a blue-chip investment in people, the future

June 6, 2019

Indigenization is not only is the right thing to do, but could be what makes or breaks Canadian organizations in the years going forward. And with that in mind, TRU’s School of Business and Economics (SoBE) is enthusiastically infusing Indigenous elements into its programming and in other cases, creating courses and credentials.

See below for some examples of how SoBE is participating in the campus wide Coyote Project—a forward looking view of adding more indigenous elements to the programming across campus, whether its in arts, trades and science, to law, campus services and the library.

“It’s going to be pretty much impossible to do business in Canada, or internationally, without having some interface with indigenization,” says Michael Henry, TRU’s dean of the School of Business and Economics. “So it’s vitally important for the success of all our graduates—for all of our school—to have a deeper sense of the history and the current Indigenous culture and practice in Kamloops, in BC, in Canada and around the world.”

First Nation Applied Economics Certificate
The First Nation Applied Economics Certificate provides the knowledge and skills to assist in the development of First Nations economic infrastructure, in particular the development of residential and commercial enterprises.
The program will be of interest to people in First Nation economic development roles; those doing business with First Nations; and local, provincial or federal government employees involved with First Nation development.
The First Nation Applied Economic Certificate is a joint initiative of the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics, the First Nations Tax Commission and TRU.

First Nation Taxation Administration Certificate
The First Nation Tax Administration Certificate provides the knowledge and skills needed to design and operate a taxation system similar to other governments using the powers outlined in the First Nation Fiscal Management Act. It examines how First Nation government tax policies can be used to promote economic development and finance and build infrastructure.

Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager Designation
The Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation offered by AFOA Canada is the preferred credential for Aboriginal financial managers. TRU has entered into an agreement with AFOA to provide nine of the 14 courses in the CAFM program either online or on-campus. These courses plus the mandatory five online courses delivered by AFOA Canada can transfer into TRU’s Bachelor of Business Administration (on-campus), Bachelor of Commerce (online) or Bachelor of Public Administration (online). Graduates who complete 10 required accounting courses as part of their degree can ladder directly into the Chartered Professional Accountant’s (CPA) Professional Education program.

Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrators Designation
The Certified Aboriginal Professional Administrators Designation (CAPA) is a new credential offered by AFOA Canada that prepares managers to take leadership roles in Aboriginal communities and organizations. TRU has entered into an agreement with AFOA Canada to allow CAPA graduates to transfer into TRU’s Bachelor of Business Administration (on-campus), Bachelor of Commerce (online) or Bachelor of Public Administration (online).

Ch’nook Scholars Program
The Ch’nook Scholars program works with aboriginal students engaged in full-time business education. This work is focused on two themes. Achievement by each scholar in developing the skills needed for career success, and contribution by all scholars to the broader community. The scholars program offers a set of activities to help students in each of these areas.

Ch’nook recognizes aboriginal business students studying in institutions across British Columbia who demonstrate personal and professional achievements and have made contributions to their university, college or community as Ch’nook Scholars. In addition to a $2,000 scholarship, each scholar receives expenses-paid attendance to two provincial gatherings, business cards, professional head-shot, and many opportunities to meet industry professionals and network with other scholars. Scholars must be full-time students and agree to uphold the Ch’nook philosophy of Achieve and Contribute.