The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Dentistry, together with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA), Northlands College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, are collaborating to establish the first and only accredited Indigenous dental therapy degree program of its kind in Canada.
This initiative will focus on the recruitment of Indigenous students and provide opportunities for students to learn where they live by offering multiple campuses, which will be key to supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action to increase the number of Indigenous professionals in Canada’s health systems. The program is also responsive to the unique needs of students, allowing flexibility for breaks in their studies, should they be required, by letting students complete the program in steps. Additionally, the dental therapy program will enable Indigenous communities and organizations to sponsor Indigenous students as a way to promote working in Indigenous communities.