Iohahi:io Akwesasne Adult Education is now IOHAHI:IO AKWESASNE EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE.
On March 21, 2019, the Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education - Board of Trustees - met and discussed the proposed name change that was presented by Norma Sunday, Associate Director of Post-Secondary Assistance and Adult Learning. It was approved and passed by the Board of Trustees.
Iohahi:io Akwesasne Adult Education and Training Centre was named as such because when the facility was built its "target market for training services was adult residents in Akwesasne who include but not limit: female heads of households, older workers (over age 45), workers with low educational levels, workers laid off from long-term jobs" (excerpt from Akwesasne Adult Education Centre Planning & Feasibility Study Executive Summary, pg. 8).
The Indigenous Institutes Act, 2017 formalized the recognition of Indigenous Institutes as a pillar of post-secondary education in Ontario. Iohahi:io Akwesasne Education and Training Institute is one of nine recognized publicly assisted Indigenous Institutes in Ontario. The Act creates a pathway for Iohahi:io Akwesasne Education and Training Institute to provide independent certificates, diplomas and degrees, once we have undergone a quality assurance review conducted by the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council. The Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council is an Indigenous-controlled council which conducts quality assurance reviews that are aligned with Ontario quality assurance standards and processes and reflect the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium standards that integrate Indigenous cultures, languages and worldviews.
MCA recently provided informal feedback to AMBE that they would like to see: "that Iohahi:io expand its educational and student support programming and operations similar to other Aboriginal institutes;" and "Iohahi:io make the necessary consultations and preparations to be an institution that is independent of Council."
Now that Iohahi:io has moved under the umbrella of AMBE, it is moving forward very quickly, expanding and growing. Its name should reflect this move towards an independent Indigenous institute of higher learning. We want Iohahi:io to become a first choice for students when they consider their post-secondary education.