The Oẏateki Partnership aspires to lead and facilitate transformative processes to generate more dynamic, integrated, ‘wholistic,’ state-of-the-art, and responsive education and employment systems that will change the lives of Indigenous youth for the better. By inspiring these developments, we envision a stronger Saskatchewan for all of us.
The Oẏateki Partnership is a unique collaborative between the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) alongside First Nations and Métis youth, communities, and organizations. The Partnership builds on a history of collaboration across the three partner institutions, the unique strengths, and the relationships that each institution holds.
On an individual level, the Oẏateki Partnership seeks to improve levels of self-determination among Indigenous young people in Saskatchewan by increasing their engagement with post-secondary schooling and improving educational attainment and labour market outcomes. Achieving these short-term results will positively and meaningfully contribute to the overall ‘holistic’ health, wellbeing, and socio-economic impacts for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities that will be felt in society.
Indigenous people makeup 16% of the total population in Saskatchewan and, since 2006, have grown at a rate four times faster than the non-Indigenous population. Indigenous people in Saskatchewan are also significantly younger, on average than the non-Indigenous population (28 vs. 41). However, historical systemic barriers have resulted in Indigenous people having higher unemployment rates (~10% higher) and being less likely to have received a post-secondary education than the non-Indigenous population (12% vs. 29%). Despite these realities, Saskatchewan is home to strong, resilient, and culturally grounded Indigenous peoples, Nations, and organizations as well as non-Indigenous allies and organizations committed to furthering reconciliation, decolonization, Indigenization and addressing inequities faced by Indigenous young people. The three partner organizations have been at the forefront of this work. GDI is a Métis-led post-secondary institution, SIIT is a First Nation-led post-secondary institution, and USask is a non-Indigenous university with deep commitments to serving Indigenous learners and communities.
Oẏateki is a Dakota concept meaning all people together and leaving no people behind
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPOPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY
FROM 8:30AM TO 5:00PM
SUITE 400, 224 4TH AVENUE SOUTH
SASKATOON, SK S7K 5M5
We acknowledge that the land on which we gather in Treaty Six Territory is the traditional gathering place for many Indigenous people. We honour and respect the history, languages, ceremonies and culture of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who call this territory home.
©2022 OẎATEKI PARTNERSHIP