W O R L D I N D I G E N O U S N A T I O N S H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N C O N S O R T I U M

W I N H E C p r o v I d E s a N I N t E r N a t I o N a l f o r u m a N d s u p p o r t f o r I N d I g E N o u s p E o p l E s t o p u r s u E C o m m o N g o a l s t H r o u g H H I g H E r E d u C a t I o N .

formatIoN of WINHECWINHEC was officially launched at Delta Lodge, Kananaskis Calgary in Alberta Canada during the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) 4-10 August 2002. The founding state/country members present were Australia, the states of Hawai’i and Alaska and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium of the United States, Canada, the Wänanga of Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Saamiland (North Norway).

turoa royal - Te Wananga-o-Raukawa, Otaki, Aotearoalionel Bordeaux - Sinte Gleska University, South Dakota, USArongo Wetere - Aotearoa Institute, Aotearoaray Barnhardt - University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Merritt Helfferich - Consortium for Alaska Native Higher Education, AlaskaCheryl stephens - Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi. Whakatane, AotearoaVincent Knox - Gumurrii Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, AustraliaCharlie Broadwater - Gumurrii Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, AustraliaRichard Jenkins - Nechi Training, Research & Health Promotions Institute, Edmonton, Canadapeter Hanohano - Native Hawaiian Education Council, Hawai’iverlieann leimoni malina-Wright - Native Hawaiian Education Council, Hawai’itom davis - Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, Minnesota, USAdella C. Warrior - Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, USARon McNeil - Sitting Bull College, North Dakota, USAJames Shanley - Fort Peck Community College, Montana, USAmarit myrvoll - Norway/Saamiland

“ We gather as Indigenous Peoples of our respective nations recognizing and reaffirming the educational rights of all Indigenous Peoples. We share a vision

of Indigenous Peoples of the world united in the collective synergy of self determination through control of higher education. We are committed to build-ing partnerships that restore and retain indigenous spirituality, cultures and languages, homelands, social systems, economic systems and self-determination”

t H E v I s I o N o f W I N H E C a s s t a t E d I N t H E C H a r t E r I s a s f o l l o W s :

WINHEC EXECutIvE Board – struCturE

The WINHEC Executive Board has an Executive Chairperson and three Co-chairpersons. In addition each participating Nation has two seats on the Board except for Canada and USA which each have four seats. The Executive Board also has the discretionary power to allocate additional special seats.

The Executive Chair and Head Office of WINHEC are held for a three year term by one of the participating Nations.

The Executive Board also meets annually in one of the participating Nations.

“ W e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o

b u i l d i n g p a r t n e r s h i p s

t h at r e s t o r e a n d r e t a i n

i n d i g e n o u s s p i r i t u a l i t y,

c u l t u r e s a n d

l a n g u a g e s , h o m e l a n d s ,

s o c i a l s y s t e m s ,

e c o n o m i c s y s t e m s a n d

s e l f - d e t e rm i n at i o n”

WINHEC goals

• Accelerate the articulation of Indigenous epistemology (ways of knowing, education, philosophy, and research);

• Protect and enhance Indigenous spiritual beliefs, culture and languages through higher education;

• Advance the social, economical, and political status of Indigenous Peoples that contribute to the well-being of indigenous communities through higher education;

• Create an accreditation body for indigenous education initiatives and systems that identify common criteria, practices and

principles by which Indigenous Peoples live;

• Recognize the significance of Indigenous education;

• Create a global network for sharing knowledge through exchange forums and state of the art technology

• Recognize the educational rights of Indigenous Peoples

“ W e s h a r e t h e

v i s i o n o f i n d i g e n o u s

p e o p l e s o f t h e W o r l d

u n i t e d i n t h e

c o l l e c t i v e s y n e r g y

o f s e l f d e t e r m i n at i o n

t h r o u g h c o n t r o l o f

h i g h e r e d u c at i o n”

ACCREDITATION AND WORKING GROUPS

The WINHEC Board of Affirmation was officially developed at the WINHEC 2004 Annual Conference in Brisbane Australia. WINHEC members see great merit in having an indigenous accreditation body as a vehicle for strengthening and validating Indigenous higher education institutions and Programs based on standards and procedures developed and implemented by WINHEC.

The work of WINHEC is done in large part by Working Groups. The following is a list of the current areas of work:• Academic Programs• Research and Journal• International Funding• Software development for Indigenous Knowledge• Language Revitalization• Early Childhood Education• Sustainable Development and Climate ChangeFor full details of these Working Groups please visit the WINHEC web site www.win-hec.org.

“ W i n h e c p r o v i d e s a n

i n t e r n at i o n a l f o r u m

a n d s u p p o r t f o r

i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s t o

p u r s u e c o m m o n g o a l s

t h r o u g h h i g h e r

e d u c at i o n ”

“ t h e l a n d i s d i f f e r e n tW h e n yo u h av e l i v e d t h e r e

W a n d e r e ds W e at e df r o z e n

s e e n t h e s u ns e t r i s e

d i s a p p e a r r e t u r n

t h e l a n d i s d i f f e r e n t W h e n y o u k n o W

h e r e a r er o o t s

a n c e s t o r s ”Nils As lak Valkeapää: The Sun, My Father

mEmBErsHIp

Members in World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) are organizations, individuals or institutions concerned about and supporting the education, livelihood, culture, and well being of Indigenous Peoples and their communities. WINHEC members enjoy the privilege of sustaining a movement and advancing the goals by paying annual membership.

Membership levels• Individual membership • Aligned organizations• Institutional membership (affirmed) • Institutional membership (non-affirmed)• National groups • Other (category for any open donation)

WINHEC membership application forms and payment details are available online at www.win-hec.orgavailable online at www.win-hec.org

Photo: Asta Balto

www.win-hec.org

W O R L D I N D I G E N O U S N A T I O N S H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N C O N S O R T I U M

WINHEC Head Office - Sámi allaskuvla / Sámi University CollegeHánnoluohkká 45, NO- 9520 Guovdageaidnu, Norway

Tel: +47 78 44 84 00 - winhec@samiskhs.no

Photo: Kristine Nystad