Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) - Elementary
For over forty years, the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) has provided pre-service teacher training. In addition to its 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.
As a graduate of the SUNTEP Bachelor of Education After Degree (BEAD) program, you will be eligible for certification as an elementary teacher anywhere in the Province of Saskatchewan. Graduates are highly sought after for their expertise in literacy, anti-racist/anti-oppressive education and their strong ability to integrate Indigenous content and perspectives across the curriculum.
SUNTEP sponsors qualified Métis applicants for all tuition and required fees during the two years of after degree pre-service teacher training.
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.
The SUNTEP programs offer a solid foundation in educational theory, with an emphasis on yearly field placements in elementary classrooms, providing students with valuable hands-on experience. As a student, you will receive academic and cultural support through one-on-one academic advising, small class sizes, a cohort model, a focus on community, and opportunities for cultural enrichment and engagement.
What is SUNTEP?
SUNTEP prepares future teachers of Indigenous ancestry with the knowledge and skills to support the educational needs of all students, with particular sensitivity to those of Métis and First Nations backgrounds. The program includes concentrations in English reading/ language arts and cross-cultural education with an emphasis on Métis history and culture.
In the program you will learn about:
- Métis Ways of Knowing and Being
- Cross-cultural education
- Métis and First Nation people’s history and culture
- The Michif language and land-based learning
- The Saskatchewan curriculum and societal issues exploring social justice, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist education lenses which extend to the schools and classroom experience
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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 Culturally Responsive and Relational Pedagogy, antiracist/anti-oppressive education, as well as Métis language, traditions and culture.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 dedicated tutorials, you’ll receive guidance and support to help you succeed.Experiential learning and community-based learning
Mentored by a cooperating teacher and supported by a SUNTEP advisor, you will apply your theoretical learning through hands-on field placements. You’ll explore Métis history and culture through community-based learning, with trips to places such as Lebret, Batoche, Duck Lake, and the GDI Museum. Additionally, you’ll have many opportunities to engage with Métis old ones and participate in local community events.Graduate career ready in two years
In this after-degree program, you'll build on your current education and graduate in just two years of full-time study, fully prepared to start your career and make a meaningful impact. The Bachelor of Education degree is approved by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Professional Regulatory Board, meeting the requirements for Saskatchewan Teacher Certification. Graduates are ready to begin careers as elementary school teachers or in early childhood education, community-based programs, and government roles.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)(After Degree)’SUNTEP sponsors qualified Métis applicants for all tuition and required fees during the four years of pre-service teacher training.
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?
Graduates of the SUNTEP program earn a Bachelor of Education degree approved by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Professional Regulatory Board, meeting the requirements for Saskatchewan Teacher Certification. Upon completion, you will be qualified to teach at the elementary level anywhere in Saskatchewan. SUNTEP graduates stand out for their deep understanding of literacy, anti-racist and anti-oppressive education, and their skill in integrating Indigenous content and perspectives into all areas of teaching.
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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