Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) - Elementary
For over forty years the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) has offered a teacher education program. In addition to this four-year program, SUNTEP offers a two-year after-degree option for students who already have an eligible degree. Both pathways are delivered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI) in partnership with the Ministry of Advanced Education and the University of Regina.
SUNTEP sponsors qualified Métis applicants by covering all tuition and required fees for either program.
Distinct features of the SUNTEP program include small class sizes, one-on-one academic advising, access to professional development opportunities, and Michif cultural experiences on and off campus.
The primary goals of SUNTEP are:
- to ensure that people of Métis ancestry are adequately represented in the teaching profession, and
- to ensure SUNTEP graduates are trained to be sensitive to the individual needs of Indigenous students and all students.
What is SUNTEP?
SUNTEP is grounded in foundational education theories, such as the pedagogy of relations and culturally responsive education. Métis ways of knowing and being are an integral component of SUNTEP’s teacher education program.
In the program you will learn about:
- Métis ways of knowing and being
- Anti-racist and anti-oppressive education
- Métis and First Nations peoples’ histories and cultures
- The Michif language and land-based learning
- Instruction, curriculum and pedagogies within Indigenous Education
Some courses you may take include:
EMCH 150 - Michif Immersion
Introduction to Michif; designed to develop oral expression, grammar, and vocabulary with opportunities to practice, including conversation, community involvement, and land-based learning activities. This course will explore the unique Métis language, south Michif culture, and history of the people in a community setting.
ESST 100 - Métis Knowledge Customs and Traditions
This course will provide students with teachable skills and knowledge in Métis identity and traditions. Students will experience the principles of traditional Métis ways of teaching and learning such as learning by doing, learning by deeply observing, learning through listening and telling stories, learning within a community, and learning by sharing. This course will integrate hands-on practical activities with theoretical knowledge.
INDG 221- Métis Culture and History
This course surveys the historical development of the Métis as a distinct culture and society, their relations to First Nations, and their past and present roles in the evolution of Canadian society.
Quick Facts
U of R Faculty Education
Why Study with the SUNTEP Program?
Faculty Expertise
You will learn from experienced faculty who deliver courses rich in culture and Métis focused pedagogy. The foundational components of their courses include the Culturally Responsive and Relation-based Pedagogy, anti-racist/anti-oppressive education, as well as Métis language, traditions, and culture.In-School Experience
As a SUNTEP pre-service teacher, you will spend a significant amount of time each year of the program in schools working with students, teachers and the school community. The professional school placement experience progresses annually from introductory, involvement, pre-internship, to the completion of a semester-long internship in the final year.
Supportive Learning Environment
SUNTEP follows a cohort model, allowing you to learn and grow alongside a supportive group of peers. With a low professor-to-student ratio, small class sizes, one-on-one support, and professional modules, you’ll receive guidance and support to help you succeed.Tuition and Fees Covered
SUNTEP sponsors qualified Métis applicants by covering all tuition and required fees for the four-year teacher education program.SUNTEP Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to the SUNTEP Program, you will apply to the Gabriel Dumont Institute and to the University of Regina.
When you apply to the University of Regina, ensure that you self-declare and then choose the program of study as ‘SUNTEP (Education)’SUNTEP sponsors qualified Métis applicants by covering all tuition and required fees for either program.
To subsidize living expenses, students may also qualify for Student Financial Aid, which provides loans and grants to help cover education costs.What Can You Do with a SUNTEP Bachelor of Education?
The Bachelor of Education degree offered through SUNTEP is approved by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Professional Regulatory Board and meets the requirements for Saskatchewan Teacher Certification.
SUNTEP prepares you for a career as an elementary school teacher, with additional opportunities in early childhood education, community-based programs, and government roles. SUNTEP has graduated more than 1,600 students who are recognized as advocates, role models, mentors, and leaders in schools in Saskatchewan schools, across Canada, and internationally.
Career opportunities for SUNTEP graduates include:
- Teachers, administrators, Community Coordinators, advocates, and language and culture experts in Public and Separate School Divisions
- Teachers, administrators, and post-secondary coordinators in First Nations communities
- EAL/ESL teaching opportunities abroad
- Roles in government agencies and community-based organizations
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