Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning

Dechinta is Indigenous-led, and serves Indigenous peoples in Canada at its location near Blachford Lake in Yellowknife, Canada.{{Cite web |last=Ryan McMahon |date=18 April 2022 |title=CANADALANDBACK |url=https://www.canadaland.com/shows/canadalandback/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=CANADALAND podcast |language=en-US}} It is the only land-based accredited university program in the world and has been providing educational services for over ten years.

Dechinta develops land-based culturally immersive programming in collaboration with local Indigenous communities. Programming includes instruction from Elders, land-based practitioners, Knowledge Holders and Indigenous academics in order to prepare students for leadership roles in their communities with a focus on land-based practices, governance, self-determination, gender and artistic practice.dechinta.ca{{Cite web|url=https://decolonization.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/leanne-simpson-and-glen-coulthard-on-dechinta-bush-university-indigenous-land-based-education-and-embodied-resurgence/|title = Leanne Simpson and Glen Coulthard on Dechinta Bush University, Indigenous land-based education and embodied resurgence|date = 26 November 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://cabinradio.ca/49988/news/education/nwt-educators-work-to-include-indigenous-knowledge-in-stem/|title=NWT educators work to include Indigenous knowledge in STEM|date=23 November 2020}}

Dechinta delivers culturally-relevant educational programming that prioritizes reconnection, skill-building, knowledge and practice with the land. Dechinta prioritizes the importance of being together on the land, learning with the land, and having a strong relationship to the land. Dechinta directly fulfils many of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's education recommendations, including closing the education gap by delivering culturally appropriate and community developed curricula, enabling parent and community responsibility and control, and respecting and honouring Indigenous government relationships.

Dechinta's programming includes services such as free integrated childcare, on-site counselling, and health services. Dechinta's programs aim to be inclusive to families, women, girls, and gender non-conforming, queer, and two-spirit folks in order to provide access to Indigenous cultures, languages, and identities.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2014 |title=Leanne Simpson and Glen Coulthard on Dechinta Bush University, Indigenous land-based education and embodied resurgence |url=https://decolonization.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/leanne-simpson-and-glen-coulthard-on-dechinta-bush-university-indigenous-land-based-education-and-embodied-resurgence/}}

Dechinta is currently committed to expanding their partnerships and developing programming in different regions in the north.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/dechinta-federal-funding-1.5074493| title = Dechinta 'bush university' eyes expansion with 5 years of federal funding {{!}} CBC News}} Dechinta has on-going partnerships with several academic institutions including the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta,{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/dechinta-partners-with-ubc-1.3325176| title = N.W.T.'s Dechinta learning centre partners with University of British Columbia {{!}} CBC News}} Collège Nordique Francophone and Aurora College.{{Cite web|url=https://cklbradio.com/2020/09/30/nwt-post-secondary-schools-sign-collaboration-agreement/|title = NWT post-secondary schools sign collaboration agreement - CKLB Radio|date = 30 September 2020}}

In 2020, Dechinta received funding from the Mastercard Foundation to address gaps in training, education, and research during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2020 |title=Dechinta Centre receives Mastercard Foundation grant |url=https://cabinradio.ca/40624/news/education/dechinta-centre-receives-mastercard-foundation-grant/}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/11/world/canada/yellowknife-covid-northwest-territories.html|title = The Plan to Protect Indigenous Elders Living Under the Northern Lights|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 11 March 2021}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://dechinta.ca/ Official website]

{{coord|62|09|58.86|N|112|40|59.64|W|region:CA-NT_type:landmark|name=Dechinta: Centre for Research and Learning at Blachford Lake|display=title}}

Category:Education in the Northwest Territories

Category:2010 establishments in Canada