The Honours Bachelor of Education (Indigenous Teacher Education) Primary/Junior Division program provides individuals of Indigenous ancestry with the teaching strategies and knowledge necessary as a future teacher. We use a mixture of in-class and experiential learning to develop the skills and ability to teach Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at the Primary and Junior level. Our HBEd program helps prepare future teachers to meet the educational needs of elementary students while addressing elements of Indigenous heritage, identity, and languages. Graduates of the program are recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) for certification to teach in Ontario schools.

Program Length: Students in the HBEd program complete a three-year undergraduate degree followed by a two-year Bachelor of Education Professional program for a total of five years.

Students in the undergraduate degree complete courses in the following subjects: Education, Indigenous Learning, English, General Sciences, and Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and/or Cree.

In addition to coursework, students complete an Honours Project in their fourth year that demonstrates their learning in a format of their choice.

The two-year Bachelor of Education Professional Program (years 4 and 5) focuses on educational theories, practices, and abilities, providing students the knowledge and experience to be an effective educator.

View the course calendar

Admission Information

To enter the Primary/Junior Indigenous Teacher Education (HBEd) program, applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

• Be a person of Indigenous ancestry (e.g. First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)
• Hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
• Have a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses, including Grade 12 U English
• Have an overall average of a minimum of 70%

For more information, contact our department at

Telephone: (807) 343-8010 ext. 7196
Email: kie.education@lakeheadu.ca

How to Apply

To apply for the HBEd program, use the Ontario Universities' Application Centre's (OUAC) online applications. OUAC processes your application and then sends it to Lakehead for assessment.

Application Steps:

1. In the OUAC application, search by Program Code: AK, Major Interest "Aboriginal Education"
2. Contact your previous schools and have them securely email docs.admission@lakeheadu.ca with official copies of your transcript(s)
3. You will receive an email with your Offer of Admission and instructions. Use the login given to you at www.lakeheadu.ca to sign into your new email & Mylnfo. For help with this process, email studentcentral@lakeheadu.ca
4. Login to your Mylnfo: Register for Classes & ask for Special Permission when prompted. You will need to register for classes each semester

Where you are currently studying or have studied in the past will decide which OUAC application you will use. To access more information about the different OUAC applications as well as this program's necessary documentation, deadline dates, and how to apply, please use the following resources:

• For high school students or recent high school graduates
• For mature students
• For college or university transfer students
• For international students