Timelines

1976

  • February 20, 1976, Order-In-Council establishes the Saskatchewan Indian Community College under the Community Colleges Act of Saskatchewan effective March 1, 1976.
  • First (Principal) of the Saskatchewan Indian Community College was Clane Anthony Sparvier (Tony) (April 19, 1976 – April 6, 1979)i.
  • April 21, 1976 marks the official opening of the Saskatchewan Indian Community College (SICC)ii.
  • 30 ABE Classes Delivered (76/77)iii

1977

  • 36 ABE Classes Delivered (77/78)iv

1979

  • Principal of SICC is Oliver Cameron (May 1, 1979 – November 21,1982)v

1980

  • Ten students from various communities graduate from a twelve day Accounting and Administration SICC course held in Black Lake, Saskatchewanvi
  • SICC Coordinates Community Health Representative (CHR) training in cooperation with the medical services branch of Health and Welfare Canada.

1981

  • AES Dedicated word processor replaces typewriter

1982

  • 2 Osborne transportable computers with CP/M operating system running supercal.
    • 7" orange display
  • MOU between Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada and SICC is signed.
  • SICC's First President Raymond Ahenakew (November 22, 1982 – November 30, 1984)

1983

  • First IBM Computer with 10 MB Hardrive with MSDOS operating system
  • October 1, 1983, First Group Insurance Plan & Pension Plan
  • Training needs assessment is established with $3.5 million in help from the Federal and Provincial Governmentvii
  • A Regional Satellite System of Colleges is established in response to labour market studies. This changes the college's priorities from offering ABE, Indian Management and Introductory Skills and Trades on reserve delivery to the establishment of on-going, fully certified occupational courses of up to three year duration, via Regional Campuses.
  • Regional Campuses are established as such:
    • Prince Albert: Business Administration
      • March 31, SICC purchases the Prince Albert Business College (PABC)and is run as a "special project" of SICC with funding from INAC and/or Employment & Immigration Canada (EIC) until 1986
    • Yorkton: Pre-employment Welding
    • Shellbrook: Industrial Mechanics
    • Muskeg Lake First Nation: Plumbing, Heating, and Gasfitting
    • Fort Qu'Appelle: Recreation Technology

1984

  • 2nd President Daniel Bellegarde (December 1, 1984 – June 30, 1987)viii
  • The Fire Fighting and Preservation Training Program is established providing 40-hour courses of intensive training in all facets of fire fighting and prevention. 35 bands received training between 1984 to 1987.
  • National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) community workers complete first nine-week training program coordinated by SICC, incorporating Indian Culture and Values, Imperative in the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse in Native communities

1985

  • Information Systems Computer Network Installed at Saskatoon Location, 30 MB Storage.
  • January 23, 1985, The "Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act" is passed through a third reading by the Legislative assembly of the FSIN. This means that The Saskatchewan Indian Community College is now The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT).
    • By enacting this legislation, the Indian Governments of Saskatchewan put in motion the process through which the Institute may eventually receive stable operational funding
    • SIIT and the Federal Government agree to pursue stable operational funding for the Institute; the problem of no government agency having the authority to fund Indian-controlled post secondary institutions must be rectified.
  • The Thunderchild Technical Institute was established and, along with the National Indian Forestry Institute established by the Meadow Lake Tribal Council; both established a working relationship with SIIT.

1986

  • First computers used in Adult Basic Education(ABE) delivery
  • Stats software (SAS) installed on Original SIIT PCXT Computer
  • SIIT enters its 10 year anniversary
  • Special Project Funding for PABC ceases and it becomes an institutional program of SIIT, funded through the Department of Advanced Education and Manpower course purchase allocation.

1987

  • 3rd President, Ronald L. Albert (October 1, 1987 – January 7, 1994)ix
  • SIIT establishes a satellite college in North Battleford and starts a Diploma in Nursing Program.
  • SIIT's Satellite Colleges operate in cooperation with other post secondary institutions and certifying bodies.
    • Certification in various SIIT programs is now offered through:
      • Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (now Kelsey Campus)
      • Saskatchewan Technical Institute (now Palliser Campus)
      • Wascana Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (now Wascana Campus)
      • Saskatchewan Department of Labour
      • Association of Canadian Career Colleges
      • National Indian Forestry Institute
      • Saskatchewan Safety Council
      • Justice Institute of British Columbia
  • Student Services are continued and expanded
    • 5 satellite colleges now have a Student Counsellor authorized to administer GED and CTBS (Canadian Tests of Basic Skills) testing.
    • Academic and Personal Counselling
      • 1 to 1 and group counselling is available
      • Educational and vocational information is provided, including course selection, program requirements, and registration assistance
    • Other services include
      • Assistance in seeking financial aid
      • Translation and interpretation services
      • Referrals to appropriate agencies
      • Job Finding Clubs for Graduates
  • September, The Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group (SITAG) is established
    • To assess ongoing labour market, training and planning needs of Saskatchewan Indians through consultation with District/Agency Chiefs (Labour market analysis and Economic Development plans) and the private sector
    • To prioritize training needs and purchase skill training programs from the most appropriate source
    • To evaluate the effectiveness of the training
    • SITAG purchases the Prince Albert Business College Courses
  • November 1, 1987, The Saskatchewan Indian Enterprise Development (SIED) Centre of SIIT is established. SIED services are to include
    • Entrepreneurship Training Programs and Specialized Business Workshops
      • Two Entrepreneurship Training programs are delivered to 32 participants in 1987, and seven new businesses are subsequently established by graduates the same year
    • An Entrepreneurship Library for market research to determine feasibility of business enterprises
    • A monthly Entrepreneurship newsletter, consulting and counselling services and liaison with funding agencies and institutes.
  • SIIT considers moving its head office to the Moose Woods Reserve (What is now Whitecap Dakota First Nation). This is in conjunction with the FSIN's goal of increased visibility at the band level.

1988

  • The head office of SIIT was located at the Moose Woods (Whitecap) Reserve south of Saskatoon. Plans to relocate to the Asimakaniseekan Askiy Reserve in Saskatoon are in the process of being implemented.
  • The Recreation Technology Program in Fort Qu'Appelle winds down. SIIT in conjunction with the Fort Qu'Appelle District Chiefs will offer an Indian Business Management Program for September

1989

  • No Funding for ABE but funding for GED
  • September 1, 1989 the Touchwood File Hills and Qu'Appelle District Chiefs officially inaugurated the Indian Business Management Program in Fort Qu'Appelle. The two year diploma program is accredited by SIAST Palliser Campus.
  • During the Christmas holidays, the building that housed PABC was destroyed by fire along with all its assets.
    • The students were moved to SIAST Woodland Campus until April 15, 1989 when a local businessman provided office space at a nominal rate.

1991

  • Prince Albert Business College (PABC) shuts down.
  • May 15, 1991 a landmark educational partnership agreement was signed between SIIT and SIAST. The agreement represents academic integration between SIIT and SIAST, and complete cooperation between the two institutes with regard to program/service planning, development, delivery and evaluation.

1992

  • Integrated Land Management: The first certified course delivery under the SIAST/SIIT academic agreement in the fall located in Saskatoon.
  • Programs delivered in Saskatoon are relocated to First Nations Education & Training Centre (FNETC) which was owned by Saskatoon Tribal Council and Battleford Tribal Council at 141- 105th St. East.

1993

  • The name of the First Nations Education & Training Centre was changed to Mikisiw Campus.

1994

  • First Nations Child Care(FNCC)
    • Developed in partnership with Meadow Lake Tribal Council and University of Victoria
    • Provincial Recognition in Spring
    • March 1,1994 first delivery of FNCC in Meadow Lake
  • Community Services Program
    • Developed in the Fall & Spring of 1994
    • Several program areas including addictions

1995

  • IT Storage Network at 300 MB
  • 4th President, Joan Greyeyes (April 3rd, 1995 – May 3, 2005)x

1996

  • Training Administration System (TAS) introduced 13 LIMBS gained access to a real time central database
  • April 26, 1996 SIIT and SaskTel sign partnership agreement to establish the SIIT Call Centre, the first Aboriginal Call Centre in Canada
  • June19, 1996 SIIT Call Centre name was changed to the First Connections Call Centre
  • July 2, first calls were made to on-reserve customers

1997

  • Electronic Basics: Partnership between SaskTel, SIAST and SIIT. First delivered in 1997
  • RCMP Prep on stream.
  • Mikisiw Campus moved from Sutherland to downtown and officially became known as SIIT's "Saskatoon Campus"
  • Internet and Admin email services launched.

1998

  • 1st Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
  • August 24, 1998, SIIT becomes fully autonomous from SIAST and is given the power to issue its own credits.
  • November 5, 1998 the Regina Construction Career Centre is created to answer the call for trained Aboriginal Human Resources for the construction of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) Regina Campus.
  • SIIT and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission create the Joint Training Committee. The SIIT JTC enables qualified First Nation and other individuals to more easily enter the construction trades as apprentices.
  • First Connection Call Centre wins a national recognition CANDO Award for Innovation and Success.

1999

  • May 21, Churchill Building is Purchased (Present day Saskatoon Campus)
  • Computer Support Technician (CST)
    • First Delivery in Meadow Lake (Autumn)
  • GIS Program
    • Developed and Delivered in Saskatoon (Autumn)
  • November, HH/LTCA
    • Program Developed First Full time delivery at Saskatoon Campus
  • Campus WAN Connects 6 campuses and Head Office as a cohesive network

2000

  • IFW program
    • First Delivery in La Ronge in Fall of 2000
  • Construction Careers Saskatoon is established
  • June, Construction Careers Regina is the winner of the "Promotion of Aboriginal Participation in the Workplace" from the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development "Training for Excellence Awards"
  • July 1, 2000 the Provincial Government Recognizes SIIT as a fully accredited post secondary institute by way of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act. SIIT now has the power to issue fully transferable academic credits to its students along with the U of S, U of R and SIAST.

2001

  • June 14, 2001 SIIT Celebrates 25 years of growth
    • Renewing of the Sasktel/SIIT Call Centre Agreement.
    • SIIT alumni association has its Inaugural launch
    • Trade show featuring SIIT Alumni from different programs
    • Gala Banquet in the evening
  • June 15, 2001 SIIT's first centralized convocation for all students from all regions
    • 192 graduates

2002

  • SIIT's Construction Career Projects (Construction Careers Regina and Construction Careers Saskatoon) are selected as the national winner in the Broad Community Collaboration Award Category of the National Partners in Education Awards. The presentation was made at the Partners 2002: Education and Innovation Symposium and showcase.
  • September 23, 2002 SIIT Signs an MOU with SAIT. SIIT's 2 year IT Diploma program will have direct credit transferability to SAIT's 4 year applied IT Degree.
  • Fall, SIIT, in conjunction with MLTC, delivers its Process Operation Technician (POT) Program in Meadow Lake.

2003

  • Construction Careers Prince Albert is created
  • May 2003 SIIT is approached by SIAST and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) to co-host the ACCC Annual Conference in May/June 2004
  • June 19,2003 13 graduates of SIIT's first Information Technology (IT) program are acknowledged (100% Graduation Rate)
  • Syncrude and TOLKO hires summer students and placement of POT, Management (Business Admin) and IT Grads
  • June 2003 Agreement with NorQuest College
  • November 2003 Receive Weyerhaeuser Scholarship
  • December 5, 2003, SIIT and STC host the grand opening of the Career Village at 229 – 4th Ave S, Saskatoon.
  • SIIT begins its Practical Nurse Program
  • Process Operation Technician Program Lab in Meadow Lake becomes Operational
    • 9 students graduate with 100% employment
  • There are currently 250 Apprentices registered to the SIIT Joint Training Committee
  • SIIT is proud to report it has graduated its first Journeyperson in the construction trades. The student started in the Construction Worker Preparation program and is now a Red Seal Carpenter.

2004

  • Fall: Forestry Career Centre started
  • January,2004 Began Golf Management Program
  • February 20, 2004 Prime Minister Paul Martin Visits the Saskatoon Campus!
  • May 30 SIIT & SIAST Co-Host the ACCC's Annual Conference in Saskatoon
  • Western Canadian Symposium on Aboriginal people in trades held in Saskatoon
    • SIIT and SIAST are co sponsors

2005

  • 5th Acting President, Ray Ahenakew (January 10, 2005 – December 31, 2007)

2007

  • Friday February 23, 2007 Premier Lorne Calvert announces the Mount Royal Initiative in Saskatoon and the Regina Inner City Initiative.

2008

  • October, 2008 SIIT initiates a Marketing and Communications Division of its Organization.
    • Based out of Saskatoon it also houses the Department of Student Recruitment
  • The Yorkton, Meadow Lake and North Battleford Industrial Career Centres are established.
  • 6th President, Randell Morris (January 1, 2008 – Present)

2009

  • June 23, 2009 in partnership with INAC, SIIT launches its Mobile Career Coaches
  • Branding of SIIT is taking on a new innovative direction.

2010

  • January 15, 2010 SIIT announces the launch of its Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) program. The course begins August 23 2010.
  • New website is being designed and launched.

Footnotes

i Sherry Krentz documents
ii http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a76apr08.htm
iii http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a79feb24.htm
iv http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a79feb24.htm
v Sherry Krentz documents
vi http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a80nov41b.htm
vii http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a84apr28.htm
viii Sherry Krentz documents
ix Sherry Krentz documents
x Sherry Krentz documents