The Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute (WWNI) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) have signed a renewed 30-year federated agreement to continue delivering university-level education in the Nass Valley.
The signing took place September 19 at the WWNI campus in Gitwinksihlkw, coinciding with a meeting of UNBC’s Board of Governors.
For over three decades, WWNI and UNBC have worked together to provide accessible, culturally grounded post-secondary programs rooted in Nisga’a language, culture, and knowledge. The agreement ensures students can continue to pursue UNBC degrees and certificates close to home.
Programs include Canada’s first Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in First Nations Studies, and the new Bachelor of Arts in Nisga’a Language Fluency, launched in fall 2024. A second cohort is underway for the MA program, with a third planned for 2026.
The new agreement removes barriers to student success, expands learning options, and strengthens both academic and cultural programming.
It also supports national efforts toward reconciliation and Indigenous rights, including commitments tied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Leaders from both institutions say the partnership is a long-term investment in student success and community well-being.
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