OpenFieldUniversity nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills
Experience decolonized indigenous education, Cree and Dene language revitalization, and community sovereignty degrees at Blue Quills University.
Institutional Overview
University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ) is Canada's first Indigenous-owned and operated university institution. Formed in 1970 following a historic sit-in reclaiming the former residential school facility, Blue Quills is governed jointly by seven First Nations in Treaty 6 territory, offering transformative Indigenous-centered degrees in education, leadership, Cree and Dene languages, and social work.
- Type
- Indigenous-Owned & Governed Public University
- Campus
- Main Campus, St. Paul (Treaty 6 Territory), Alberta
- Accreditation
- Chartered by Blue Quills Education Council & World Indigenous Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC)
- Admissions
- Direct admission via high school credentials, prior learning assessment, or mature applicant portfolio
- Language
- English with extensive immersion in nehiyawewin (Cree) and Dënesųłı̨né (Dene)
- Aid
- Band Post-Secondary Funding (PSSSP), Alberta Student Aid & UnBQ Cultural Bursaries
Academic Strengths & Distinctive Focus
- Historic landmark institution representing self-determination and reclamation of Indigenous education
- World-class revitalization of nehiyawewin (Cree) and Dënesųłı̨né (Dene) languages and oral archives
- WINHEC-accredited Master's and PhD programs grounded in Indigenous ceremonies, protocols, and cosmologies
- Holistic community learning model integrating restorative healing, land-based education, and ecological stewardship
Featured Academic Degrees & Curricula
Bachelor of Arts in iyiniw pimâtisiwin kiya (Indigenous Studies)
Four-year curriculum rooted in Indigenous philosophies, community development, treaty obligations, and governance.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) - Indigenous Specialization
Decolonized human services curriculum integrating healing traditions, child welfare advocacy, and community trauma interventions.
Doctor of Philosophy in Indigenous Peoples' Education
Terminal research degree exploring decolonizing epistemologies, oral storytelling methodologies, and community educational sovereignty.
Current Verified Opportunities & Fellowships (7)
UnBQ Sacred Pipe Indigenous Leadership Award
Merit and cultural dedication award celebrating First Nations students demonstrating active participation in community ceremonies and language preservation.
Bachelor of Social Work (Indigenous Specialization) Enrolment
Accredited social work degree delivering trauma-informed, culturally grounded family and community counseling methodologies.
nehiyawewin Cree Language Immersion Summer Practicum
Eight-week intensive land-based immersion program focusing on conversational Plains Cree, traditional ecological knowledge, and oral transmission.
PhD in Indigenous Peoples' Education Research Fellowship
Doctoral research fellowship financing dissertation research on community-governed schools, curriculum decolonization, and traditional governance.
Treaty 6 Land-Based Ecological Stewardship Internship
Paid field internship monitoring native prairie biodiversity, sacred medicinal flora, and water systems across Saddle Lake and Beaver Lake Cree nations.
Bachelor of Arts in iyiniw pimâtisiwin Enrolment
Four-year bachelor program focusing on the holistic understanding of human life, community harmony, and traditional legal orders.
UnBQ Indigenous Healthcare Worker Transition Bursary
Need-based bursary supporting Indigenous students transitioning from community health worker roles into professional social work and health leadership.
Prominent Faculty & Research Supervisors (3)
Dr. Sherri Chisan
President & Lead Researcher in Indigenous EpistemologyFaculty of Indigenous Studies & Governance
Pioneering educator and leader who guided UnBQ's WINHEC accreditation, focusing on oral tradition frameworks, ceremony in higher education, and sovereign governance.
Dr. Patricia Makokis
Senior Professor in Indigenous Social WorkSchool of Social Work & Human Services
Renowned author and advocate for systemic Indigenous health and child welfare reform, exploring relational accountability and restorative justice circles.
Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack
Cultural Advisor & Professor of Cree LinguisticsDepartment of Indigenous Languages & Cultural Arts
Venerated knowledge keeper and residential school survivor whose linguistic teachings preserve ancient ceremonial Cree syntax and medicinal plant knowledge.
Information published on this guide is verified directly from official institutional documentation as of 2026-10-15. Academic criteria, tuition fees, and admission requirements are subject to institutional revisions. Prospective students should consult the official website (https://www.bluequills.ca) for current registry filings.