Students at the University of Prince Edward Island will be able to earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in Indigenous studies starting this fall, and officials expect the program to fill up quickly.

While similar programs exist at schools Alberta and Saskatchewan, UPEI’s course will be the first of its kind in the Maritime provinces. 

Erin Reid, assistant professor in the faculty of Indigenous knowledge, education, research and applied studies at the university, called the announcement “a momentous occasion.”

Reid is Metis from Treaty 6 Territory in Saskatchewan and has already taught a foundational course in Indigenous knowledge and education that all UPEI students take.

“The university is absolutely committed to reconciliation and so we are very happy to work alongside them and building the major, and hopefully into a graduate program as well,” Reid said.

Students will have the opportunity to take courses in areas such as Indigenous languages and cultures with a focus on the Mi’kmaw language, as well as colonialism, decolonization and Indigenous self-government. 

Reid said there is already a full suite of around 30 courses that were created in the early days of the Indigenous studies minor program.

“We are hoping and we are receiving applications as we speak [from] both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students,” she said. 

‘A firm foundation’

Reid said students earning a degree in Indigenous studies will have “a firm foundation” in other fields like nursing, psychology and medicine.

“Our students come away with an increased competence and confidence in the true knowledge and history of Canada.”

She expects the program to be at capacity with 30 to 40 students in the first cohort this fall. Some students who were part of the minor program will also have enough credits to graduate in 2027 with a major in Indigenous studies.

Other faculties like religious studies, history and language have also begun cross-listing some courses with the new degree program.

Reid said seeing the degree program announced is “an absolute honour.”

“We want to see Indigeneity across all aspects of teaching and learning, and we are beginning to see those beginning stages.”