Yellowhead Tribal College celebrates grand opening in new home

September 20, 2018 (Edmonton, AB) – Edmonton’s only Indigenous post secondary education institution has made its new space in The Orange Hub. Yellowhead Tribal College (YTC) celebrated its grand opening with student led tours, drumming and greetings from Chiefs and government leaders. 

“For the last four years, our staff and Chiefs have dedicated a lot of time and energy to provide a space for our students that facilitates learning, space for ceremony and easier access to transit. With our new space, we can expand our programming,  increase student enrollment and provide opportunities for collaboration with the other non-profit organizations in the Orange Hub,” said Chief Tony Alexis, Chairman of Yellowhead Tribal Development Foundation.

“We owe our gratitude to past leaders, educators, and students who brought us to where we are today. We’ve been working hard for a long time and here we are now in a new building that can support our growth.”

YTC moved into the Orange Hub (10045 156 Street in Edmonton) the first week of September and classes have since begun for students. The new building provides access for students with disabilities, an expanded library, shared space for the arts and room to grow for two new programs the college is developing for the 2019/2020 school year. Securing the space as the Orange Hub’s anchor tenant would not have been possible without the support from the City of Edmonton administration and city council.

“This college will provide Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from our Edmonton Metro Region and the Yellowhead Tribal Council Nations an opportunity to learn and develop in an environment shaped by indigenous traditions and knowledge. It is exactly the kind of partnership we hoped for when the City took on the management of the Orange Hub last year,” said Mayor Don Iveson. 

The Orange Hub facility previously served as the Centre of Arts and Communication for MacEwan University. The building was purchased by the City of Edmonton in 2014 with the vision of becoming an intercultural, interagency community hub for the arts, recreation, wellness and learning. The Government of Canada committed $3.5 million for construction of the facility and the Government of Alberta also provided $1 million in funding for construction and site developments. 

“This is an exciting time for Yellowhead Tribal College. Moving to the Orange Hub gives the opportunity to expand programming and offers a more accessible environment to learners, since the space is barrier free and connected to public transit. I’m looking forward to hearing about the success of the students in this new environment,” said Marlin Schmidt, Provincial Minister of Advanced Education.

YTC offers post-secondary certificates, diplomas, and degrees and provides academic upgrading and continuing education that is accredited, transferable coursework. The college is open to all students from all backgrounds and offers a flexible, supportive academic environment, grounded in Indigenous knowledges, cultures, and traditions.

YTC was founded in 1986 in Spruce Grove, AB with the vision to meet the educational needs of Yellowhead Tribal Council members. The college operates under the direction of the Yellowhead Tribal Council. The council includes Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Sunchild First Nation, and O’Chiese First Nation.