About GDI

Mission Statement

Gabriel Dumont Institute Mission Statement: To promote the renewal and the development of Métis culture through research, materials development, collections and the distribution of those materials and the development and delivery of Métis-specific educational programs and services.

Need

The 1996 Census of Canada estimated that 11% of Saskatchewan's population, or 109,540 people, were Aboriginal. Of this number at least 35,885 are identified as Metis (1999, Women's Secretariat). While non-Aboriginal society tends to be aging, the aboriginal population is extremely young in comparison with more than half of the population under 25 years of age. When one combines the fact that the bulk of the Aboriginal population is either currently in, or soon to enter, their childbearing years, with the fact that the birth rate among the Aboriginal population is three times greater than that of non-Aboriginal society, it is clear that the demographics of Saskatchewan will change dramatically in the near future (Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative, 1998). The Role of the School Interim Report (2000) stresses the significance of this changing demographic, "by 2016 a full one-third of Saskatchewan's population will be of Aboriginal descent and nearly half of the children ages 5 to 17 will be Aboriginal: already today, in some medium-sized urban centers, the student population of Aboriginal descent is estimated to be 40% and even higher. (p.55)"

Once these projections become reality, they will present a number of challenges for the province. Studies and statistics clearly indicate that the province's Aboriginal population experience higher levels of poverty and its accompanying social problems. It is also a well-known fact that Aboriginal people have not been able to access the benefits of post-secondary education to the same extent as the non-Aboriginal community. These social issues present a challenge for the province's future. If Aboriginal people are to become full participants in the provincial economy, we must find creative avenues to allow for the redistribution of wealth and work towards a new economic reality in which Aboriginal people are fully contributing participants. As a major constituent of Saskatchewan 's work force in the twenty-first century, Aboriginal people need greater access, input and participation into post-secondary educational institutions. To efficiently address these challenges, education and training must work in tandem with social, economic and employment strategies.

Overview of GDI

The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research Inc. (GDI) was formally incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1980, to serve the educational and cultural needs of the Saskatchewan Métis and Non-Status Indian community. The Institute is designated as the official educational arm of the Metis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S). GDI offers a variety of accredited educational, vocational and skills training opportunities for the province's Métis in partnership with the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, the province's various regional colleges and the Metis Employment and Training of Saskatchewan Inc.

As a completely Métis-directed educational and cultural entity, GDI is unique in Canada. At its inception, GDI focused on education through cultural research as a means to renew and strengthen the heritage and achievements of Saskatchewan's Métis. It soon became apparent, however, that the Institute would need to become more directly involved in education if it were to fully serve the multifaceted needs, including the employment needs, of Saskatchewan's Métis community.

As a result, the Institute began developing Métis-specific curriculum and historical publications. It also began to train Aboriginal teachers and to deliver programming contracted from the province's universities, colleges and technical institutes. The first and, perhaps the best known of these efforts, was the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP).   In essence, SUNTEP trains Métis and First Nations teachers to meet the needs of the province's Aboriginal students in the K-12 system. SUNTEP also serves as a model for Aboriginal adult education programs across Canada.  

Special Features of GDI Programs

All programs offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Dumont Technical Institute, and Gabriel Dumont College are designed with a number of special features:

• Programs are, for the most part, community based.

• Most programs offer a preparatory phase of training or run concurrent update courses with regular programming when the course begins.

• All courses offer Métis Studies programming and are sensitive to Métis culture.

• Programs provide comprehensive academic and personal counseling support to students.

• Whenever possible an applied practicum phase is included as an integral part of all programs.

• All training and professional education is fully accredited and recognized.

• Instruction and programming is of the highest quality.

GDI provides the following programs and services to the province's Métis and non-Aboriginal communities:             

• Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP): Since 1980, over 650 educators have received a four-year Bachelor of Education degree from the program, which is offered in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.

• Gabriel Dumont College (GDC): Delivers the first two years of a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree to both Métis and non-Métis and is offered in Saskatoon and in Prince Albert.

• Dumont Technical Institute (DTI): Is GDI's largest component and is responsible for the design, development and delivery of Adult Basic Education, skills training, vocational and cultural programs. DTI's main office is in Saskatoon, with programming province-wide.

• Library Information Services : GDI has its own Métis-specific library system – the largest owned by any Métis educational, cultural or political institution – with branches in Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert.

• Curriculum and Publishing Department : Since 1985, GDI has developed more than 75 Métis-specific literary, cultural and educational resources. The Publishing Department is based in Saskatoon.

• Finance and Administration : GDI's Department of Finance and Administration oversees the Institute's financial and personnel management.

• Museum and Archives : In its Saskatoon centre, the Institute has a museum and archives, which includes traditional arts and crafts, oral histories, and a print, video and audio archival collection.

• The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture : In May 2003, GDI released The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture in order to better share its extensive archival, cultural and learning holdings with the public.

• Métis Cultural Development Fund : In partnership with SaskCulture Inc., GDI administers the Métis Cultural Development Fund, which provides funding to the province's Métis community for activities that preserve, strengthen and transmit Métis culture and traditions.      

• Gabriel Dumont Institute Scholarship Foundation - Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarships and SaskEnergy Scholarships : GDI provides scholarships to Métis applicants, living in Saskatchewan, enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan.  

• Gabriel Dumont Institute Health and Wellness Program : Offers both scholarship and bursary support to encourage Saskatchewan Métis to enter into health-related careers associated with the advancement of Métis people.

GDI History

1976      Métis Cultural Conference initiated planning for a Métis Educational Institute.

1980     The Gabriel Dumont Institute is formed and SUNTEP began operations. The             Institute hosts first Annual Cultural Conference.

1983       Initiation of federally sponsored preparatory, credit skills training, and university programs.

1985      The Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarship Foundation is established.

1989      The Institute begins publication of the Journal of Indigenous Studies.

Saskatchewan Justice and the Institute establish the first residential Community Training Residence (CTR) for female offenders in Saskatchewan.

1991      Dumont Technical Institute was established as a federated institute of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.

1992       Master Agreement between the Institute and Saskatchewan Education providing for the operation of DTI. DTI delivers technical and Adult Basic Education (ABE) programming within all provincial community colleges and SIAST institutions.

1993      The Institute signs an Affiliation Agreement with the University of Saskatchewan creating the GDC.

1995      A two-year Métis Teacher Associate Certificate Program was developed by the Institute and the University of Saskatchewan.

1996      GDC began offering Arts and Science classes.

2001      DTI purchases a central administration building in Saskatoon.

2002      GDI receives a Saskatchewan Book Award for Ken Carriere's The Bulrush Helps the Pond and Metis Legacy.

2003      GDI receives two Saskatchewan Book Awards for Cheryl Troupe's Expressing Our Heritage: Métis Artistic Designs.

2003      GDI moves into new centres in Saskatoon and Regina.

2003      GDI launches The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture

            (www.metismuseum.ca)

2004      GDI Publishing moves into a new centre in Saskatoon.

Governance of GDI

GDI is the educational arm of the MN–S. The Institute is the only wholly Métis owned and controlled educational institution of its kind in Canada. The Institute is responsible for the design, development and delivery of specific education and cultural programs and services. While the Institute is affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina and is federated with the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, it has maintained its independence and Métis identity.

Through its network of learning centers across Saskatchewan, the Institute maintains a close contact with the people it serves. The programs and activities of the Institute are determined by the identified needs of the Métis and are implemented according to the decisions of its Board of Governors.

The GDI Board of Governors is responsible for the development of Institute policies and programs, for the development and approval of programs and for the general administration of the Institute. As such, the GDI Board of Governors oversee the policies and operations of:

• GDI central operations, which include finance and administration, library services, curriculum development/publishing and research;

• DTI: technical and vocational programs;

• SUNTEP:   Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert;

• GDC: Arts and Science Program; and

• Other University programming in association with the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.

The GDI Board of Governors is comprised of twelve members, representing the twelve regions of the MN–S. As well, the Minister of Education for the MN–S serves as Board of Governors Chairperson.

The Current GDI Board of Governors is as follows:

Vacant – Chairperson,

Minister of Education – Metis Nation – Saskatchewan

GDI Reporting

     2006-2007 Operation Highlights

     2006-2007 GDI Annual Report

     2006-2007 GDI T&E and DTI Financial Statements

     2006-2007 GDI GDC, CTR and SF Financial Statements

    2005-2006 Annual Report

    2005-2006 Financial Statements

    2005-2006 Operational Highlights

    2004-2005 Annual Report

    2003-2004 Annual Report

     2002-2003 Annual Report

     2001-2002 Annual Report

     1999-2000 Annual Report

     SUNTEP Update Report 2002

     Owning Ourselves: Publishing Department Update Report 2002

GDI Campuses/Locations

GDI offers university-accredited educational programming in three main centres across Saskatchewan – Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.   Through DTI, GDI offers Adult Basic Education and Skills Training at centres across the province.

GDI Main Campuses:

Gabriel Dumont Institute

University of Regina

Rm. 227 College West

3737 Wascana Parkway

Regina, SK   S4S 0A2

Gabriel Dumont Institute

2 – 604 22 nd Street West

Saskatoon, SK   S7M 5W1

Gabriel Dumont Institute

48 – 12 th Street East

Prince Albert, SK   S6V 1B2

Dumont Technical Institute

917 – 22 ND Street West

Saskatoon, SK   S7M 0R9

GDI Staff

Finance and Administration - Saskatoon

Phone: 306.683.3634

Fax: 306. 975.0903

Saskatoon Office/Publishing and Curriculum Department

Phone:306.934.4941

Fax: 306.244.0252

Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment Services

Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment Services - Saskatoon Office

#104-219 Robin Crescent

Saskatoon, SK S7L 6M8

Phone: 306.683.3634

Fax: 306.683.3508

Toll Free: 888.344.0445

GDI T & E Inc. - Saskatoon

917 – 22ND Street West

Saskatoon, SK   S7M 0R9

PH: 306.242.6070

FAX: 306.683.5280

GDI T & E Inc. - Prince Albert

1308 B - 1st Avenue East

Prince Albert, SK   S6V 02B1

PH: 306.763.8013

FAX: 306.763.8016

GDI T & E Inc. - Yorkton

#7 - 1st Avenue North

Yorkton, SK   S3N 1J3

PH: 306.782.5266

FAX: 306.782.5269

GDI T & E Inc. - North Battleford

Suite #301-1101 101st Street

North Battleford, SK   S9A 0Z5

PH: 306.445.5081

FAX: 306.445.5084

GDI T & E Inc. - Nipawin

Box 2513 - 210 1st Street East

Nipawin, SK   S0E 1E0

PH: 306.862.5045

FAX: 306.862.5048

GDI T & E Inc. - Meadow Lake

220 B - 2nd Street East - Box 656

Meadow Lake, SK   S9X 1Y5

PH: 306.234.2370

FAX: 306.234.2373

GDI T & E Inc. - Ile a la Crosse

Box 510

Ile a la Crosse, SK   S0M 1C0

PH: 306.833.2760

FAX: 306.833.2763

GDI T & E Inc. - La Loche

95 Descharme Street - Box 910

La Loche, SK   S0M 1G0

PH: 306.822.2812

FAX: 306.822.2815

GDI T & E Inc. - Regina

1235 2nd Avenue North

Regina, SK   S4R 0X5

PH: 306.352.5620

FAX: 306.352.5623

GDI T & E Inc. - La Ronge

207 La Ronge Avenue - Box 1410

La Ronge, SK   S0J 1L0

PH: 306.425.5283

FAX: 306.425.5286

GDI T & E Inc. - Beauval

Box 158

Beauval, SK   S0M 0G0

PH: 306.288.2304

FAX: 306.288.2309

*If you are having trouble emailing any of the GDITES regional offices, please telephone (306.683.3634) or fax (306.683.3508) the office or send your email to the main GDITES office care of brandy.laronde@gdite.gdins.org. All of the email accounts will be fully functioning in the near future.

Library Services

Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program - Regina

Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program - Saskatoon

Phone: 306.975.7095

Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program - Prince Albert

Dumont Technical Institute (DTI) - Saskatoon

Phone:306.242.6070

Fax:242.0002

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - Saskatoon

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - Prince Albert

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - Regina

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - LaLoche

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - Ile-a-la-Crosse

DTI Adult Basic Education Program - Meadow Lake

Licensed Practical Nursing - Prince Albert

Licensed Practical Nursing - Saskatoon

Literacy Program - La Loche