Empowering Indigenous People: The Power of Educational Innovation 1989–1995

Extended insights from Aboriginal people reveal the highly significant and life changing impact on lives of both staff and students. Pat Dudgeon, who provided leadership to the Centre for Aboriginal Studies for more than 18 years, reveals the struggles involved in being different, becoming accepted and maintaining the cultural integrity of the people and programs for which she was responsible. She talks of the personal processes of decolonization required to maintain the focus on social justice, while working to ensure that the Centre was strongly situated within the institution. Staff speak of the realization they could make a real difference in people’s lives and the strength of a learning environment where both students and staff learned from each other. One former staff member became aware that his presence was part of a new paradigm that was driving the change in what was clearly an Aboriginal space. Many students speak of the extent to which participation in the program was a life-changing experience that provided a pathway they could accomplish; where they could help Aboriginal people make a difference in their lives. Through the consolidation and growth emerging in this era a thriving Centre became strongly grounded within the broader operation of the university.