Nov. 13 - Nov. 17 2023; this week was reading week with no classes, but was not a pause in my learning journey. I was fully immersed in the Indigenous Relations Training Program (IRTP), a unique initiative that interweaves professional and personal development (24 hours of non-credit Professional Development). From Tuesday to Friday, I spent each day from 9 AM to 4 PM on the main UCalgary campus, participating in the program as part of REDEVELOP, followed by a debrief session scheduled on Saturday (Nov. 18th).

The IRTP stands out for its commitment to authentic, immersive learning experiences. With Indigenous program facilitators and Elders at the helm, the program offered a rare opportunity to delve deep into Indigenous perspectives and wisdom. This enriching experience, which I plan to detail in a separate blog post, has been both enlightening and transformative. I intended to share this reflection earlier, but there is so much impactful knowledge to capture from my 4 day training and I want to ensure that I do it right. I also want to receive consent from all educators prior to sharing thereby I think it is only feasible to finalize during the winter break at the semester’s end.

Amidst this enriching IRTP experience, the academic rigors of the program continued. Nov. 17th was the deadline for submitting the comprehensive policy recommendation report that was a focal point of my Week 11 reflection. Additionally, my ambition to commence research for my Competitive Policy term paper, which accounts for a substantial 40% of my course grade, had to be momentarily shelved. This captures the challenge with course-based graduate programs: balancing a multitude of deliverables and competing priorities within a limited timeframe, all while endeavoring to grow personally in areas outside of academia.

*Photo: The Big Fiddle in Sydney, Nova Scotia taken Aug. 11/2023.

Summit photo