Certificate in
Reconciliation Studies
EARN A CERTIFICATE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON TRUTH-TELLING AND RECONCILING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THROUGH HYBRID ONLINE COURSES AND LAND-BASED LEARNING.
PROGRAMS / RECONCILIATION STUDIES
Truth-Telling and Reconciling with Indigenous Peoples
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Learn together about the history, culture, and worldview of our Indigenous friends and neighbours.
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Take an honest look at how diverse peoples encountered each other on Turtle Island as Europeans began to land and settle here.
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Become informed about the histories of treaties and our responsibilities.
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Understand the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action.
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Respond by investigating the possibilities and challenges of reconciliation as we head toward the future together.
Semester and Course Sequencing
The successful completion of the Certificate in Reconciliation Studies requires a total of 18 credit hours. Students therefore need to complete two semesters that consist of hybrid online courses, land-based learning, a two-week learning tour, and practicum to complete their CertRS.
Semester One is the academic core of the Certificate in Reconciliation Studies and consists of 3 hybrid online courses that are centered on a two-week in-person module (offered next in Oct. 16–25, 2024) in St. Stephen, New Brunswick and the Peskotomuhkati Nation’s Camp Chiputneticook. Hybrid online courses combine some online engagement with an intensive in-person module providing experiential, land-based, and storytelling approaches to education. One of the courses can be taken entirely online for those not able to attend the fall module. Semester Two consists of a Reconciliation Studies Learning Tour, scheduled in Winnipeg and area in 2025, and a practicum in your local community.
Students may start with either semester. Currently, each semester is offered in the fall on a rotating basis, but SSU will offer Semester One in the fall and Semester Two in the spring each year starting in 2024/25. Click on the tabs below to view all components of the program.
9 CREDIT HOURS
RST 5445
RST 5145
RST 5645
Indigenous Sovereignty and the Colonial Legacy (3 c/h)
DR. LAURENS VAN ESCH
Wabanaki Nations, Decolonization, Reconciliation (3 c/h)
DR. IMELDA PERLEY & DR. DAVID PERLEY
Culturally Safe and Trauma-Informed Relationship (3 c/h)
DR. WALTER THIESSEN & ANDY WOOD
THE CRS AT A GLANCE
DURATION — 8 MONTHS (FULL TIME)
CREDIT HOURS — 18
DELIVERY MODE — HYBRID ONLINE COURSES, LAND-BASED LEARNING, STORYTELLING, JAMES BAY LEARNING TOUR, PRACTICUM
EMPHASES — TRUTH-TELLING; TRC AND CALLS TO ACTION; RECONCILIATION; DECOLONIZATION, INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY; HISTORY, CULTURE, AND WORLDVIEW OF OUR INDIGENOUS NEIGHBOURS
Certificate Course Descriptions
INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY AND THE COLONIAL LEGACY | DR. LAURENS VAN ESCH | 3 CREDIT HOURS
SEMESTER ONE
This course will explore historical framework including topics such as pre-contact context, concepts of sovereignty, nation to nation engagement and treaties, traditional worldviews and shifting cultural understandings, types/phases of colonialism, residential schools, and the importance of differing languages/ interpretations. Indigenous knowledge-keepers and storytellers will be invited to share much of the content of the in-person module.
RECONCILIATION STUDIES LEARNING TOUR
Winnipeg / Treaty 1 Territory
MAY 22 – JUNE 1, 2025
PROGRAMS / RECONCILIATION STUDIES / LEARNING TOUR
Listening, Learning, and Walking Together
From May 22 to June 1, 2025, St. Stephen’s University offers a ten-day Learning Tour to Winnipeg, Treaty 1 Territory (and surrounding areas), where participants will learn about local reconciliation efforts between settler and Indigenous peoples. We will meet with elders and knowledge-keepers as well as Indigenous and settler activists, academics, artists and others who are directly involved in community-based work to foster cultural revitalization, social justice and right relations between Indigenous and settler peoples.
Why Winnipeg?
Located on the original lands of the Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota and Dene peoples and on the homeland of the Red River Métis, the city of Winnipeg has an extraordinary and ongoing history as a centre of colonization and Indigenous resistance and revitalization in Turtle Island/North America. As the home of the largest urban Indigenous community in the country, Winnipeg harbours insights that reveal the deep challenges as well as the remarkable efforts to create a better future for coming generations. While the majority of our time will be spent in Winnipeg itself, the tour will also include a retreat at an Indigenous-led spiritual centre outside of the city.
At a glance.
DATES – May. 22 – June 1, 2025
CREDIT HOURS – 6 c/h (only if taken for credit)
TOTAL TRIP COST FOR CREDIT – $3,520 CAD + flights (includes tuition)
TOTAL TRIP COST FOR NON-CREDIT – $1,500 CAD + flights
PROGRAM INFO – When taken for academic credit, the Learning Tour forms one component of SSU’s Reconciliation Studies Certificate, which in turn can be taken on its own or integrated into a master’s degree at SSU.
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BIB 5728: Hebrews – Team Taught – 3 credit hoursThe book of Hebrews is structured very much like a letter but it reads like a sermon. It contains some of the most sophisticated writing in the NT, yet for all the glory of its’ prose it remains an enigma to many and is ignored by most. Like a textual bridge linking the Old and the New, this brilliant piece of ancient literature connects all of scripture as the revelation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to walk with our panel as we discuss how and why the writer of Hebrews believes that Jesus is superior to all that we have ever known or ever will know. This promises to be another thought provoking and delightfully encouraging adventure in discovering how good God really is. Like our previous discussions of the Gospel of John and the Apocalypse, this event will be a unique experience offering a panel of six highly qualified biblical scholars and theologians contributing insights and perspective in our discussions of Hebrews. Instructors: V. Rev. Dr John Behr Dr. Bradley Jersak Dr. Chris E.W. Green Dr. Cherith Nordling Fee Kenneth Tanner John MacMurray Guest Panalists: Brian Zahnd Julie Canlis Wm. Paul Young Visit https://www.opentableconference.com/hebrews-class for more info.
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BIB 5729: John's Paschal Gospel – Team Taught – 3 credit hoursFor two thousand years the Gospel of John has been one of the most essential texts in shaping the theological landscape of the Jesus Way. The profound impact of John continues for his ancient narrative has captured the imagination and love of every one of our panelists and continues to ground and shape their lives. Instructors: V. Rev. Dr John Behr Dr. Bradley Jersak Wm. Paul Young Dr. Cherith Nordling Fee Kenneth Tanner John MacMurray Visit https://www.opentableconference.com/john-class for more info.
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BIB 5726: John's Apocalypse – Team Taught – 3 credit hoursRegardless of what religious persuasion a person identifies with, the idea of looking into a crystal ball to see the future or "end times" has sparked the curiosity of just about every person on the planet. (Have you heard of the "Left Behind" Series?) Not surprisingly, Apocalypse (or the book of Revelation) has fascinated students of the Bible for centuries. Yet, because of the unique way it was written (riddled with symbolism and metaphor wrapped in visions and dreams) it has also stimulated more controversy and debate than probably any other book in the Bible. There is no shortage of opinions about the meaning of this book. But what if Revelation was meant to be read as a companion to John's Gospel, similar to Luke-Acts? We are excited to take a deep dive and explore this question, along with a plethora of other questions that this provocative book offers. Instructors: V. Rev. Dr John Behr Dr. Bradley Jersak Wm. Paul Young Dr. Cherith Nordling Fee Kenneth Tanner John MacMurray Guest Panalists: Brian Zahnd Julie Canlis Dr. Chris E.W. Green Visit https://www.opentableconference.com/revelation-class for more info.
FAQs
PROGRAM ADVISORY COUNCIL
In consultation with Indigenous colleagues, neighbours, and friends, this certificate program is designed to prepare students to commit to an ongoing process of reconciliation as invited by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
An advisory council has been formed to ensure ongoing engagement with, feedback from, and accountability to Indigenous leaders and educators for our new certificate program. Our advisory council currently includes:
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Judith Moses (St. Andrews, NB)
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Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux (Thunder Bay, ON)
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Kyle Mason (Winnipeg, MB)
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Roland Sappier (Fredericton, NB)
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David Perley (Tobique, NB)
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Imelda Perley (Tobique, NB)
PRINCIPLES & VALUES
OUR PARTNERS
St. Stephen’s University is located on the homeland of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) people. We are grateful for their welcome and friendship, and we are always seeking ways in which we can develop our relationship in mutually respectful ways, including our conversations with Chief Hugh Akagi and others about our Reconciliation Studies program. It is a privilege that we are able to locate some of our program on the Peskotomuhkati Nation’s Camp Chiputneticook (15 minutes north of St. Stephen’s University).
We respect the intentions of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship, while acknowledging the many ways in which governments and others have failed to honour their part of those agreements. It is our desire to live up to the responsibility of being “treaty relatives.”
