Category: AC Buzz Newsletter

north2north: Academic and cultural exchange in the Circumpolar North

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As a member of University of the Arctic (UArctic) – a network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other educational institutions in the circumpolar North – Aurora College students, staff and faculty have a number of opportunities to enhance their learning.

One key opportunity is north2north, which offers exchange opportunities with other UArctic members across the circumpolar North. In recent years, a number of students, staff, and faculty from Aurora College have travelled to other Nordic and Arctic regions, including Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Canadian member institutions are from Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Labrador, and Quebec.

The flexible north2north program facilitates both short and longer-term encounters from a few weeks to a semester or a year in length. The aim of north2north is to provide northern students, faculty, and staff opportunities to share cultural and academic experiences across Nordic regions.

north2north participant Saraha Gillis is a second-year Office Administration student, born and raised in Yellowknife. She jumped at the opportunity to apply, as she had rarely previously travelled. Saraha says she has always been curious about the experiences of Indigenous peoples in other areas of the Circumpolar North and how they compare to the Northwest Territories.

Saraha was selected to travel to Finland and Norway for 10 days in November 2025 based on her application essay that linked the travel to her academic studies.

She journeyed to a number of destinations, including Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Inari, Kautokeino, and Alta. Her itinerary featured Arktikum Science Centre, Lapland University, Sami Education Institute, Siida Museum in Karasjok, Sami University of Applied Sciences, and University of Tromsø.

“It was an incredible experience,” exceeding her expectations. “You get to see so much, and you also get to engage with people from other cultures. We did things like reindeer rides and visited different campuses. It was also great to connect with the Sami people and have group discussions every night.”

Saraha shared the experience with nursing student Caitlin Seymour. A third-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student and proud Metis woman from Fort Smith, Caitlin says she was attracted by the opportunity to meet new people from other cultures, especially Indigenous peoples in the circumpolar North.

“I’m Indigenous, so I grew up with a strong connection to my culture, and I’ve always loved learning about Indigenous cultures around the world—just to see the similarities and differences,” she notes.

Being able to contextualize her Indigenous culture within the Sami Indigenous cultures of Finland and Norway was something Caitlin found especially intriguing. “I didn’t learn a lot about nursing directly, but I learned a lot about myself as an Indigenous person. I did meet some people who shared their experiences with their healthcare systems, but that came up naturally in conversation.”

In many ways, the trip built on Caitlin’s previous efforts to share her life experiences with others in the region. For example, she had gained strong exposure to Sami and other cultures when she volunteered at the Arctic Winter Games in her community in 2018.

More recently, Caitlyn said second-year BSN class, “Relational Practice III: Connecting Across Differences”, helped her to appreciate that understanding other cultures is key to being a better nurse practitioner.

“Last semester, we had a whole course on connecting across cultures, and I thought this trip would align really well with that, even though it wasn’t directly related to nursing, It’s a relational practice class, and it’s about learning to understand and engage with cultural differences.”

Gloria Bott, Bachelor of Science in Nursing program instructor, has been a strong advocate for north2north funding for cultural exchange programs.

“There’s a significant amount of personal growth,” Bott says of the program’s impact on students. “It’s been a steady program since its launch, and the research we’ve conducted has really highlighted how valuable these international experiences are, not just for the students but for the broader academic community. It’s been a wonderful opportunity that continues to grow.”

Find out more information about north2north

Academic Council will shape future academic standards

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As Aurora College continues evolving toward becoming a polytechnical university, a big aspect of the ongoing success will be the effective implementation and operations of the new governing structure. The Academic Council is one of three elements of Aurora College’s new governance model – the others being the Board of Governors and the Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council.

The Academic Council is distinct in that it is composed of solely of Aurora College faculty, staff and students, and deals directly with decisions related to academic quality and standards.

The current Council is made up of 30 members, including 14 elected faculty, three elected staff, three elected students, three ex-officio members, and four members appointed by the College President. It advises the Board of Governors, makes recommendations on all academic matters, and is helping to build the College’s capacity to make academic decisions.

Amendments to the Aurora College Act in May 2022 laid out the framework for the Academic Council as one of the three governing bodies for Aurora College. The first Council came into being in November 2023.

Academic Council Chair, Dave Porter, notes that the Academic Council provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to be engaged in the academic direction of the College. It gives them a more fulsome understanding of what is happening within the institution and how it operates. The Council also provides the ability to make some decisions rather than just recommendations.”

To date, the Academic Council has developed a terms of reference, reviewed several of the College’s processes, and clarified the roles and responsibilities of members.

Membership currently represents different NWT regions, academic programs and a mix of faculty, staff, senior management, and student representatives. The broad range of perspectives, is key to informing solid decision-making by the Council.

Resource, meeting place and heart of the College – Aurora College Libraries

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Welcome to the Aurora College Libraries! Aurora College has four library locations: Thebacha Campus Library in Fort Smith; Aurora Campus Library and Aurora Research Institute Library in Inuvik; and Yellowknife North Slave Campus Library. Open to students, staff, and members of the public, these four libraries host a variety of resources to support the informational needs and desires of the campus communities.

The academic libraries provide valuable and specialized support to staff and students through research assistance, in-person and online services, and a diverse, Northern-focused collection.

The campus libraries offer a wide physical collection of books, DVDs, and other print materials, with more than 48,000 items between the four locations, as well as an inviting space to work, study, or enjoy a favourite book. Aurora College’s unique collection features Northern and Indigenous materials that both support academic programs, and serve as general interest items for users looking to learn about the rich history of the NWT or discover new Northern and Indigenous authors.

Virtual Display

The three campus libraries are currently featuring a display titled Acting on Reconciliation: One Act at a Time. This monthly display, both in-person and online, features a number of actions that individuals can take towards reconciliation in Canada. More information about this display can be found on the page linked above. This display is one of many created and rotated on a regular basis at the campus libraries as a way to connect readers with new materials.

Space to study and learn

With a range of evening and weekend operating hours to accommodate diverse schedules, the libraries provide a place for people to gather and learn in a welcoming and friendly environment. Aurora Research Institute Library is currently undergoing revamping to increase accessibility and comfort.

Beyond the physical collection, Aurora College’s Libraries host a wide variety of resources online, located on the library website. Patrons can connect with library staff via a quick and convenient chat service, explore new and featured books and resources, and access the online catalogue through the library search. The library website is also home to information about services, hours, and contact information. Through the online collection, staff and students have instant access to resources such as scholarly literature, eBooks, and streaming services.

Library Staff

Library staff regularly develop program-specific research guides, subject guides, and online displays to provide quick access to library materials and supplemental resources on a number of topics. This virtual support is critical as Aurora College continues to expand the selection of online courses and programs.

Whether it is guidance for research or a comfortable place to sit and read, Aurora College’s Libraries have it all. The welcoming and knowledgeable staff are happy to help in any way! Visit in person or connect online.

Northwestel partnership boosts wellness with skiing program

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One of the great joys of working and studying at Aurora College is the opportunity to build community and promote health and wellness together. In the depths of winter in the Northwest Territories, one way to do this is through cross-country skiing.

At Thebacha Campus, in particular, students and staff have taken full advantage of the Fort Smith Ski Club (skifortsmith.ca). Thanks to funding from Northwestel, the Thebacha Campus Student Association has been able to acquire equipment and memberships for those in the Aurora College community who wish to participate.

Nicola O’Keefe, Student Life & Wellness Coordinator, has been leading weekend ski excursions for college members at the club for nearly a decade. She notes that Northwestel’s support plays a vital role in helping the campus build a sense of community.

“I think for overall wellness, just getting out on the land and making connections is so important.”

On the weekend of January 31 and February 1, O’Keefe led a group of about seven participants—students, staff, alumni, and one student’s child—on a skiing outing. O’Keefe mentioned that while weather conditions, travel, or illness sometimes prevent people from attending, she typically organizes eight to ten events at the ski club each academic year.

“The biggest benefit is allowing staff and students to get to know one another while doing an extracurricular activity. It’s a chance for people to meet others outside their programs, for instance, a Personal Support Worker student meeting a Business Administration student or someone upgrading their studies.”

She adds that these outings, away from the classroom, provide an opportunity for participants to communicate more easily. “When people are relaxed, they feel more comfortable sharing what they’re going through at school or other challenges they may be facing.”

Students and staff who are interested in joining future excursions are encouraged to watch for emails inviting participation.

Skilled Office Administrators are in high demand

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Skilled office administrator and managers are the backbone of most modern organizations, helping to ensure offices and businesses operate efficiently. Individuals with the required knowledge and skills are in demand with governments, private businesses, and non-profits in every community in the North.

To prepare Northerners to fill those roles, Aurora College offers an Office Administration Diploma, which is available through all three campuses and online, full-time or part-time. Students learn key computer programs, such as MS Word, Excel, and Outlook; organizational skills, office procedures, business writing, and business math, as well as topics such as human resources and payroll administration, financial accounting software, information and database management applications, executive office procedures, and bookkeeping and record keeping.

In addition to classroom work, students gain hands-on, practical experience through an unpaid 150-hour practicum at the end of the first year.

Program head Greta Sittichinli notes “The first year is skills-based, learning computer programs, focusing on grammar and business writing, and math. The second year is more rigorous, emulating working in an office setting and working at a higher level.”

Second year students also apply their learned skills to real-work situations, such as for their “Capstone” course. Students are tasked with planning and organizing a public event, which requires event planning, project management and teamwork skills to complete successfully. For the past nine years, students have hosted an Open House across the three campuses to promote Aurora College’s School of Business and Leadership.

The Office Administration program’s flexible delivery options allows more students the ability to participate. It is offered through all three campuses as well as online, and can be taken full-time or part-time.

In addition, many students who complete the Office Administration Diploma choose to continue their formal education and expand their skills through the Business Administration Diploma.

Applications are open now for fall 2026 classes. Check out our website (insert link) for more information.

Alumni Testimonials:
“100% I would recommend this program. It provides students with the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed in the administration role.”
— Cayla Gillis
Fort Smith
Healthy Family Worker
GNWT Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

“The OA program gave me hands-on experience in a professional setting and helped me apply what I learned. It was a valuable opportunity that helped me grow professionally.”
— Melissa Rogers
Inuvik, NT
Human Resource Coordinator
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

Northern Health Research Day: projects presented by 4th year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students

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Twenty-six Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students showcased their research posters as part of the annual Northern Health Research Day on December 3, 2025.

The event’s theme this year highlighted the importance of northern health research and its direct impact on delivering quality healthcare to northern communities.

Each year, Aurora College is grateful to partner with leading northern health and wellness organizations, including Hotıì ts’eeda: NWT SPOR SUPPORT, the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research, the College and Association of Nurses in the Northwest Territories, and many other supportive community organizations.

This year’s poster presentation featured fourth-year BSN students presenting research topics ranging from healthcare delivery challenges affecting Black communities to clinical issues and the unique perspectives of Indigenous involvement in the healthcare system. Students were required to focus on a Northern issue pertinent to nursing.

Afternoon highlights included a keynote address by Dr. Christina Marie Chakanyuka, a member of the NWT Métis Nation and Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria. She spoke on “(Re)claiming Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing, and Being in Nursing through Intergenerational Mentorship.”

The day concluded with a panel discussion on the importance of culture in Indigenous nursing and research. Speakers included health researcher Taylor Hoggarth, as well as Lianne Mantla-Look, and Aurora College alumni student Jennifer Pitt who are both Registered Nurses (RN) practicing in the North.

Congratulations to Mirian Sopuruchi Iwuji, who won the People’s Choice Award for favourite poster. She won with her presentation called Closing the Gap: Understanding Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among Black Immigrant women in the NWT. Mirian’s project focused on the high rates of women who die every year worldwide from cervical cancer, especially Black immigrant women. She explored the many factors that may prevent women, including in the North, from getting screenings done at an earlier stage.

Quote:
“Partnering again with Hotıì ts’eeda and ICHR continues to make Northern Health Research Day a special event. This year, the welcome by Elders Francoise Paulette and Rassi Nashalik and the closing by the Yellowknives Dene Drummers truly enriched the experience for all attendees, not just fourth-year students. Our panel included Northern Indigenous scholars, and our keynote speaker was a nurse with a PhD, conducting important research in the North. These features allow us to show why northern health research is so critical—not just to highlight the BSN program. By showcasing other researchers at this conference, we hope to inspire undergraduate students, as well as those in the Practical Nurse and PSW programs, and demonstrate how a focus on northern research can make a real difference.”

— Jodi Brennan, Chair, School of Health and Human Services

Quick facts:

The Aurora College School of Health and Human Services has 106 students enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students gain hands-on experience by collaborating with government and non-government organizations on community development and leadership projects.
The BSN program’s extensive practice hours and diverse settings equip graduates with the skills needed to thrive in today’s healthcare environment.

Photos:

View our photos from the day here.

Aurora College delivers academic upgrading, trades and industrial training, certificate, diploma and degree programs to students at its three campuses: Aurora Campus (Inuvik), North Slave Campus (Yellowknife), and Thebacha Campus (Fort Smith) in the Northwest Territories. Culturally relevant post-secondary programs reflect Northern traditions, communities, and needs of the Northern labour market. Aurora College’s research division, Aurora Research Institute, conducts and supports applied research in the NWT. Research centres are located in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Fort Smith.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Jayne Murray
Manager, Communications and College Relations
Aurora College
867-872-7021
jmurray@auroracollege.ca

Northern Lakes in a Changing Climate Workshop

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On Monday, November 24, 2025, the North Slave Research Centre (NSRC), the Yellowknife branch of the Aurora Research Institute (ARI), hosted the Northern Lakes in a Changing Climate Workshop. The workshop highlighted the vital role lakes play in cultural, subsistence, and recreational life, as well as the growing pressures they face from climate change, municipal development, and industrial activities. It provided a platform for sharing new research and fostering dialogue between scientists and the people and organizations whose decisions shape the future of water resources in the Northwest Territories.

Presentations at the workshop spanned a diverse range of topics, including long-term trends in ice and snow cover, the impacts of permafrost thaw on small lakes, emerging concerns about broad-scale eutrophication, and the legacy effects of historical mining on lake chemical and biological recovery. Sessions were complemented by discussions on how new findings could inform decision-making across the region, providing an important opportunity for collaboration and knowledge exchange. The workshop highlighted both emerging and persistent threats to northern lakes and set the stage for continued research and engagement.

The event was organized collaboratively by the NSRC (Aurora Research Institute, Aurora College), the Paleoenvironmental Research Group (York University), and the Engineering Sustainable Change Research Group (Queen’s University), with funding support from the ArcticNet Northern Research Leaders Program. The event was attended by researchers and students from the organizing groups, as well as representatives from Canada Water Agency, City of Yellowknife Public Works and Engineering, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change (GNWT), Dechı̨ta Nàowo (Yellowknives Dene First Nation), Giant Mine Oversight Board, Health and Social Services (GNWT), Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, McGill University, North Slave Metis Alliance, Northwest Territories Geological Survey, Rio Tinto, University of Alberta, and University of Saskatchewan.

Strengthening Research Capacity: RSO’s Impact at Aurora College

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The Research Services Office (RSO) was established at Aurora College in the research division, Aurora Research Instituted (ARI). As it builds research capacity across Aurora College, it is supported with three research centres:

Western Arctic Research Centre (Inuvik)
North Slave Research Centre (Yellowknife)
South Slave Research Centre (Fort Smith)

Under the Director of Research Services there are 10 staff positions, which include compliance for research ethics, animal care, as well as key roles to coordinate research grants and to facilitate research development. The RSO works in collaboration with research data management which is staffed out of the College Library services.

The Vice President Research oversees the RSO, in particular with all staff reporting directly to them in the absence of the Director. Starting in 2024, the RSO was able to capture funds for the newly designed Grants and Awards Program which had previously flowed to external researchers. Aurora College also was recently awarded a federal Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Mobilize grant.

The RSO is currently implementing several key initiatives to provide effective services. These proactive approaches help ensure that the RSO provides relevant supports to uphold a strong Aurora College research community environment.

System modernization: RSO staff are exploring how the existing ROMEO research data management system can be replaced with a custom-designed and in-house-managed platform so that processes such as project tracking, metrics reporting, and data retention can be improved.

Funding successes: The RSO is happy to report the successful distribution of $50,000 in support through its Aurora College Grants and Awards Program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, and $308,500 through its Mobilize Grant Program since its initiation in 2024. Aurora Research Institute and Aurora College researchers in all centre communities have received funding through these programs for diverse projects including assessing climate change effects on legacy mining-impacted landscapes around Yellowknife, equipment purchases for community-partnered water monitoring efforts at Tsu Lake, and knowledge mobilization activities on ARI-led and co-led research and monitoring programs around the Beaufort Delta Region.

Process improvements: The RSO is developing a dedicated SharePoint site for the college’s research division. This site will serve as a central hub, providing important resources to support pre- and post-award grant funding activities. The goal is to provide easy access to research-related documents such as program guides, institutional policies and procedures, and research project setup and reporting forms.

ARI Research Plan: Adding the development of a Research Plan, with measurable metrics, as a replacement for a stand-alone strategic plan, better aligns the research division within the College’s strategic pillars. Like the Academic Plan, the Research Plan will be an evergreen document to advance research across Aurora College.

Research Data Management (RDM) and Research Security (RS): These are topics that are also advancing through the RSO. While not mandated by the Tri-Agencies, the College is leading the adoption and implementation of RDM and RS at the College so that it is ready for the next generation of Artificial Intelligence and research collaborations.

INNOVATE – a new direction for Inuvik’s makers and artists

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INNOVATE – Inuvik’s newest Makerspace and Digital Media Marketing Studio – is being revitalized by a team of three bright and eager new staff members. Recent renovations reflect a change in vision for the facility. What began as a Technology Access Centre, where community entrepreneurs could experiment with prototypes and new technologies, has evolved into a community-focused makerspace and digital marketing and media studio. INNOVATE today is a place where community makers feel welcome and have the opportunity to help others learn and design with our high-tech tools. Applications are now open online for 2026-2027.

Recent upgrades include a new interior layout with signage that makes it easier for users to locate the creative activities they wish to practise. New QR-code-based membership cards and a more prominent front desk with friendly, knowledgeable staff help direct visitors to all activities available as soon as they walk in the door.

Upon arrival, visitors will also notice our equipment is better labelled. All equipment is now marked with informative labels and QR-codes which connect users to a database of local tips left by other members. These upgrades aim to help builders discover tools we have available, what they do and how to properly use them.

Other new features at INNOVATE include a new membership pricing structure that makes the facility more accessible to busy, part-time designers who only drop in occasionally.

Looking ahead, INNOVATE’s guiding goal is to build stronger relations between Aurora College and other partners including the Town of Inuvik, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Stronger ties with our community partners will ensure the sustainability of the centre, will attract and keep highly skilled and dedicated staff, and continue building a community of builders in the Inuvik region.

By developing a community of applied makers, INNOVATE is contributing to economic activity in Inuvik and the surrounding region and advancing the regional economy. Aurora College will be working with INNOVATE staff, local governments, centre members and other interested parties, to establish clubs that are well-vetted with knowledgeable members can take on some responsibility for equipment upkeep, database of maintenance records and other outstanding needs.

To learn more, please visit INNOVATE – Centre for Arts, Crafts and Technology – INNOVATE Centre for Arts, Crafts and Technology | Aurora Research Institute

Why Research Partnerships Matter at Aurora College

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**Chris Paci, Vice President, Research**

As Vice President Research, my role includes working with the College research community, northern researchers, funding agencies, and partners across a host of disciplines.

A key part of my role is facilitating and advancing good partnerships that build northern applied research capacity. The Aurora Research Institute (ARI), which is the research division of Aurora College, promotes research and innovation in the Northwest Territories.

Our work is most successful when we develop partnerships naturally through outreach by College staff and by being receptive to requests and concerns from outside organizations, including with government, industry, and northern communities.

Research also attracts more research, and a cadre of researchers are often needed to tackle large persistent issues like climate change. Aurora College is made up of three research centres – South Slave Research Centre (SSRC), North Slave Research Centre, and the Western Arctic Research Centre. They are staffed by talented, smart northerners who are constantly engaging with the external research community, including with governments and partners across the North. The work we do with Indigenous governments is a top priority for us.

While a good deal of the College services and staff are funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories, research is largely supported by external funding. By listening to northern concerns and translating those issues into project proposals, we are able to attract academic funding. By bringing in research dollars from sources like the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, CanNor, or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), Aurora College adds to the overall Territorial economy – money which would otherwise be spent in southern Canada.

In research areas where Aurora College does not have academic training programs, or internal researchers dedicated to those subjects, we look for opportunities to build these. ARI’s core mission is to support Indigenous community research capacity. Aurora College addresses any gaps we may have outside partnerships by engaging with a particular focus involving graduate students and northern students studying in the south. Our hope is that by attracting these students to work in the North that they will stay long-term and make it home.

Innovative Practices

Aurora College is constantly seeking out innovative practices and new technologies that can be applied in the North to in the North, to understand research problems. We look for resources that can be used to study and produce outcomes for policymakers and governments that will improve the quality of life. It is one of the biggest rewards of the job. As Vice President, Research, my typical week is varied and it can include internal and external funding reviews. My schedule often includes having meetings with Indigenous community members or external research partners with southern universities, or meeting with larger networks such as ArcticNet (we sit on the Board and are part of the Territorial Advisory Committee).

A big part of my role involves communicating the work we do. This can include writing articles (such as for our college newsletter), creating presentations for research-related workshops, (like the annual Northern Nursing Health Research Day) or preparing opening remarks for important events like the recent Northern Lakes in a Changing Climate Workshop.

Building good relationships to promote research takes considerable time and care. We measure the success of applied research projects with key indicators including social and cultural benefits to the north, economic returns and investments, solutions to problems, and mutually beneficial outcomes and opportunities. Research tends to lead to more research, and it can also lead to training and skills development.

Aurora College is part of a larger northern postsecondary ecosystem, alongside Yukon University and Nunavut Arctic College. It is also a key member of the broader Canadian postsecondary education community, with membership in Colleges and Institutes Canada and the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies, among others.

Aurora College collaborates with international partners as well, with a membership with the University of the Arctic and many others. Our international work is important to advance monitoring and research on a number of fronts, contributing to a better understanding of long-range contaminants under the Stockholm Convention, work with the Northern Contaminants Program (we sit on the Territorial Contaminants Committee), as well as the Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program of the Arctic Council and so much more.

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