Seven Generation Education Institute campus on Agency One land near Fort Frances, September 1, 2023. Image: Randy Thoms

Classes are resuming at Seven Generations Education Institute.

Orientation took place last week.

Chief Executive Officer Brent Tookenay is happy to start a new year.

“It’s always the best time of year for us at Seven Gens, seeing all the new students and people and different things that are going to be available for the students. We try and do something different and add to what we’ve already built on over the years.”

There is, this year, a lot of focus on health care and early childhood education.

Tookenay says they have been able to grow their nursing, paramedics and personal support worker programs at all of their campuses.

“In Treaty Three in northwestern Ontario, there are huge needs for paramedics and nursing and PSWs and ECEs, and we’re working hard to meet those needs,” says Tookenay.

SGEI is also focusing attention on programs such as human resources management and business.

“A lot of our communities are into economic development, own a wide variety of businesses from golf courses to construction companies to clothing stores. So, we’re trying to help our communities train people so they are able to help those businesses succeed. We’re really trying to grow that back into what’s needed.”

One of the other unique programs is the Azhemiinigoziwin Program, a women’s empowerment program.

It is offered at the campus on Agency One near Fort Frances and Sioux Lookout.

Tookenay says it has been restructured to make it a semester program instead of one full ten-month one to help align with students’ employment or other learning.