About

First Nation communities deal with complex land management issues including land use planning, legal issues such as the duty to consult, reserve land transactions, community-based land transactions, natural resource transactions, environmental management and compliance in addition to other issues.


Quick facts
  • Certificate (1 to 2 years) and/or diploma (2 to 3 years)
  • Full or part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school

Program options

Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate: Let us Take Care of the Land

You will begin by taking the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy certificate. To accommodate our students' professional work lives, as well as their desire to not leave their home communities, this certificate program offers blended learning opportunities. Travel to Saskatoon is just three (3) times a year, where you participate in a two-week classroom-based experience comprised of lectures, labs and field trips. Once you have completed your in-class experience, you will be provided with take-home final exams to work on while you are back in your home community. Once you complete the certificate, you will be able to continue on to the diploma options, which can be taken online.

This certificate was designed to benefit:

  • Land managers
  • Land and economic development staff
  • Executive and leadership (chief and council)
  • Urban and rural youth
  • Federal and provincial government staff
  • Individuals interested in working with Indigenous communities

You will learn about:

  • Indigenous rights
  • Strategic planning
  • Land use planning
  • Traditional knowledge
  • Resource management
  • Intellectual property law
  • Project management

The Kanawayihetaytan Askiy certificate will also qualify you for the Professional Lands Management Certification Program (PLMCP), which is offered by the National Aboriginal Lands Management Association (NALMA). It also satisfies post-secondary, level-one requirements, allowing graduates to register in the PLMCP Level Two: Technical Training, which is developed and delivered by NALMA.

After completing the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy certificate, you will be eligible to apply for:

  • Indigenous Lands Governance Diploma
  • Indigenous Resource Management Diploma

Indigenous Lands Governance Diploma

The Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Diploma in Indigenous Lands Governance provides students with a broad background in governance, management, administration and political science as they relate to Indigenous communities.

The diploma prepares them for roles in governance in their communities and leadership in local, provincial and national settings. The program has a strong focus on experiential learning.  It teaches students the skills required for future employment as land managers as well as the scientific and traditional knowledge required for research and decision-making.

This diploma is entirely offered through a combination of online and condensed (one to two-week) delivery courses, although you may also opt to take face-to-face courses. Students enrolling in the diploma would normally complete the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate before enrolling in the diploma.

Indigenous Resource Management Diploma

The Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Diploma in Indigenous Resource Management provides a broad background in resource management for Indigenous communities. The diploma builds on the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate and prepares you to become a land manager in your community and for leadership roles in local, provincial and national settings.

This diploma is entirely offered through a combination of online and condensed (one to two-week) delivery courses, although you may also opt to take face-to-face courses.

The Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate is comprised of the following courses (21 credit units):

Course Description
ASKI 101 Field Studies in the Environment
ASKI 102 Introduction to Legal Concepts in Resource Management
ASKI 103 Legal Process and Instruments in Resource Management
ASKI 104 Introduction to Management Issues
ASKI 105 Economics and Planning
ASKI 201 Resource Management Project Assessment
INDG 107 Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies

Completion of the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate courses is required for admission to the Diploma in Indigenous Lands Governance program and the Diploma in Indigenous Resource Management. The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for the certificate program and the diploma programs.

Careers

Depending on which path you chose, the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy certificate, along with either the Indigenous Lands Governance Diploma or the Indigenous Resource Management Diploma, will prepare you for careers in:

  • governance, management, administration and leadership roles in your community
  • leadership roles in local, provincial and national settings

With a strong focus on experiential learning, skills will be acquired for future employment as land managers with a foundation of scientific and traditional knowledge that is required for research and decision-making. 

Tuition estimates

Canadian students
Tuition $768.60 per 3 credit unit class
Student fees $1,088.72 per year

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay per class (2023-2024 rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access. This estimate reflects the price you would pay if you are a full-time student.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Kanawayihetaytan Askiy: Certificate: Let us Take Care of the Land

Application deadline

  • April 1, 2023

Requirements

  • Admission to the certificate program is based solely on the written submission contained within the application for admission. Secondary and post-secondary level standing are not considered for admission to the program.
  • Admission is open to all applicants, regardless of Indigenous ancestry, age, or level of education.

Kanawayihetaytan Askiy: Diploma in Indigenous Lands Governance
Kanawayihetaytan Askiy: Diploma in Indigenous Resource Management

Application deadlines

  • December 1, 2022 for admission to the 2023 Winter Term
  • April 1, 2023 for admission to the 2023 Spring Term
  • May 1, 2023 for admission to the 2023 Summer Term
  • August 15, 2023 for admission to the 2023 Fall Term
  • December 1, 2023 for admission to the 2024 Winter Term

Requirements

  • Completion of the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate is required for admission to Kanawayihetaytan Askiy diploma programs.
  • You are also eligible if you have completed the Indigenous Peoples Resource Management Program but will need to enroll in INDG 107 in your first year of the diploma program.

 

Ready to apply?

  1. Select the application type: Undergraduate program: bachelor’s degree diploma or certificate.
  2. Under Planned Program of Study, select the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy program to which you intend to apply.

A non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD is required before your application will be processed.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

For more information about the program, contact the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at 306-966-4041.