Gabriel Dumont Institute

Gabriel Dumont Institute

The institute was a follow-up to a Metis Cultural Conference that initiated planning for a then named Metis Education Institute. By 1980 the Gabriel Dumont Institute is formed and SUNTEP (Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program) began its operations. This is also the year that the institute hosted the first Annual Cultural Conference. In 1983 the institute began federal sponsored prepatory, credit skills training, and university programs. In 1991 the Dumont Technical Institute was established as a federated institute of SIAST (Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology). In 1992 the institute expanded to be included in all provincial community colleges and SIAST's for technical and Adult Basic Education (ABE). In 1993 the institute signed an Affiliation Agreement with the University of Saskatchewan, thus creating the Gabriel Dumont College (GDC). In 1995 a two year Metis Teacher Associate Certificate Program was developed by the institute and the U of S. In 1996 GDC began to offer Arts and Science classes. Between 2001 and 2003 the institue began branching out, first by the DTI buying of a central administration building in Saskatoon, then by moving into more centres in Saskatoon and for the first time Regina.

Some of the other advancements associated with the Gabriel Dumon Institute is the Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarship Foundation (1985), the publication of the Journal of Indigenous Studies (1989), the first Community Training Residence for female offenders (with Saskatchewan Justice)(1989), and Saskatchewan Book Awards for The Bulrush Helps the Pond(Ken Carriere, 2002), Metis Legacy (Ken Carriere, 2002), Expressing Our Heritage: Metis Artistic Designs (Cheryl Troupe, 2003). In 2003 they also launched The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture.

The first Gabriel Dumont Institute opened up with SUNTEP in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Now it is in the three major unban centres in Saskacthewan: Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert. It is the only institute of its kind in Canada, and now offers more courses and programs then could have ever been conceived during its creation. It provides a number of services, listed below:

Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP)

Gabriel Dumont College (GDC)

Dumont Technical Institute (GTI)

Bachelor of Education (SUNTEP, since 1980 about 650 educators trained)

Bachelor of Arts and Science (GDC, delivers only the first two years)

Adult Basic Education, skills training, vocational and cultural programs (DTI based)

Library Information Services (GDI, Metis Specific library system, Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert)

Curriculum and Publishing Department (based in Saskatoon, has produced over 75 literary, cultural and educational resources directed towards Metis')

Finance and Administration (Regina based, oversees institutes financial and personnel management)

Museum and Archives (Saskatoon centre, arts/crafts, oral histories, print, video, and audio archive collection)

The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture (to promote the sharing of its archives)

Metis Cultural Development Fund (partnership with SaskCulture Inc, funds activities for the community to stregthen Metis culture)

Scholarships (Gabriel Dumont Institute Scholarship Foundation: Napoleon LaFontaine Scholarships, and SaskEnergy Scholarships. provides applicants with access to secondary education)