Walking the Red Road of Healing, Wellness, and Addiction Support
Honouring Indigenous traditions while nurturing healing, balance, and community wellness.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This program is open to individuals interested in a career in Indigenous Health and Wellness and Addictions. In addition, individuals who are currently in Addiction fields such as Alcohol and Drug Counsellors or Addiction Workers will find a benefit in obtaining a credential and/or specialized professional development training to meet job requirements. The IHWA Program is developed and implemented based on Circle Learning principles, the Medicine Wheel concept, Red Road Philosophy, Experiential Learning, and the Seven Sacred Teachings integrated with local Traditional Knowledge and practices. Courses include a focus on healing through understanding the history of Indigenous colonization, complex trauma theory, genocide, and the reclaiming of self as an Indigenous person in a traditional spiritual way. The goal is to provide opportunities for knowledge, growth, and personal development that facilitate the individual’s self-empowerment.
The program is a multi-entry, multiexit credentialed learning experience; learners can earn a Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma that transfers at a 96 block credit into a Bachelor of Integrated Studies (BIS) partnered with the University of the Fraser Valley. The program is fully accredited from years 1 to 4. Faculty have a minimum of a Masters Degree. They are certified through the Indigenous Certification Board of Canada (ICBOC), which is a pathway for student certification as an Addictions and Mental Health Worker.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Graduates of the Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addictions Program should be able to:
• Practice in a wide variety of settings including Indigenous Treatment Centres, Friendship Centres, Indigenous Holistic Health Centres, First Nations Communities and Organizations;
• Understand the processes and interconnection, human, family, organizational, and community development in relation to Addictions;
• Understand how systemic forces influence Indigenous individuals, families, and community dynamics to both promote and promote self-determination, First Nations community relations, and relations with other Canadians through provincial and federal authorities relating to Addictions and Holistic Wellness;
• Describe, analyze and critique knowledge, as well as skills and approaches for Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addiction Workers and their practice;
• Students will be able to articulate personal and professional codes of conduct and ethics consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, values, and beliefs.
PROGRAM TRANSFERABILITY
Students in NVIT’s Indigenous Holistic Wellness and Addiction program may transfer up to 96 credits into UFV’s Bachelor of Integrated Studies, provided they meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 and are admitted to the program.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ADMISSIONS
There are three ways to enter the IHWA program. All students must be alcohol and drug free for a minimum of 1 year as well as participate in a suitability interview.
1. Mature Status (means you must be out of school for a minimum of one year)
a. A letter of intent and a personal suitability interview will be required.
b. Letters of support from communities and/or employers are encouraged.
2. Students must be alcohol and drug free for a minimum of 1 year.
Or:
1. Admission Requirements Grade 12 graduation with:
a. C+ minimum in English 12/English 12 First Peoples or ENGL 060; or equivalent b. Apprenticeship and Workplace Math 11 or MATH 055 or equivalent
2. Students must be alcohol and drug free for a minimum of 1 year.
3. A personal suitability interview will be required.
Or:
1. Permissions from the Department Chair or Dean.
2. Students must be alcohol and drug free for a minimum of 1 year.
3. A personal suitability interview will be required.
MERRITT
Office of the Registrar
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology 4155 Belshaw Street, Merritt, BC V1K 1R1
Phone: 250-378-3300
Toll Free: 1-877-682-3300
Fax: 250-315-0107
VANCOUVER
Office of the Registrar
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology 200-4355 Mathissi Place, Burnaby, BC V5G 4S8
Phone: 250-378-3300
Toll Free: 1-877-682-3300
Fax: 604-412-5496
recruitment@nvit.ca
TUITION
Individuals who would like to know about the courses that would fit in their academic plan and the associated fees along with it are encouraged to connect with an Academic and Financial Planner.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOW bit.ly/NVIT-AFP
QUESTIONS? SEND YOUR PROGRAM QUERIES
Connect with Jessica Stepp at jstepp@nvit.ca or 604-602-3433.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IHWA PROGRAM
https://www.nvit.ca/programs/human-services/indigenousholistic-wellness-and-addictions/
