Oshki-Pimache-O-Win’s students are excited about learning in their home communities along with others from across the north.

“I’ve been waiting for a program like this for quite a while,” says Veronica Ramadan, an Aboriginal Financial & Economic Planning student from Constance Lake First Nation. “I can work in my home community and attend school full-time through Oshki-Pimache-O-Win instead of having to relocate to the city to attend college. After we’re done our on-campus sessions at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win, we still have regular contact with the teacher and students as well.”

Students begin each semester of their program with a week of on-campus sessions covering three or four courses at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win in Thunder Bay. While the days are long, up to 12 hours, and the on-campus sessions intensive, the students understand the importance of learning as much as possible while on campus with the teachers and other students.

“It’s like taking a full-time program at college, but it’s definitely different,” Ramadan says. “Each semester is split in half, with four courses in the first eight weeks and three courses in the last eight weeks.”

After the first week of on-campus sessions, students return home for seven weeks to pursue their program using a variety of distance education tools, including online platforms, teleconferences, videoconferences and independent study, before returning to Oshki-Pimache-O-Win to begin the next round of courses.

“There were three things I had to balance in order to finish my assignments,” says Edna Cutfeet, an Aboriginal Community Service Worker student from Wabaseemoong First Nation. “I set time aside for my conferences, I gave myself time to complete my school work, and I balanced my school work with my home life and my work as well.”

The students appreciate the welcoming atmosphere at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win and the efforts of the instructors and other staff during their time at the Institute.

“It’s a great place to learn and interact with the other students,” says Brenda Roundhead, an Aboriginal Finance & Economic Planning student from Slate Falls First Nation. “The staff are really friendly and very understanding of our culture.”

The students are also happy with the quality of education they receive from Oshki-Pimache-O-Win.

“I am more knowledgeable in my field,” says Cutfeet, a mental health counsellor with Nodin Child and Family Intervention Services. “My education helps me with my work.”