Japan and Belize Summer Programs

Program objectives:

The objective of the Japan Summer Program (2022-2024) is to offer an enriching experience that facilitates intercultural learning and effectiveness, as well as cultural self-understanding by bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Japanese and Canadian students together in a variety of activities and spaces. From in-class learning to site visits that foster deeper understanding, participants will develop their capacity to understand other worldviews and contribute to a sustainable, globalized world.  This experience is meant to be a reflective and profound personal and academic journey; it is for anyone who seeks to engage insightfully and impactfully with the world.

Itinerary Highlights:

Participants will be spending approximately three weeks between two cities/regions (Hokkaido and/or Kyoto/Tokyo), using an Indigenous Wholistic Framework (anchored in respect, responsibility, relevance and reciprocity) to engage with their environment, develop meaningful personal and professional connections, and learn culturally astute ways of thinking, being and communicating with the world.

In collaboration with Hokkaido University’s Center for Ainu and Indigenous Studies, students will gather in talking circles, attend lectures and engage in meaningful dialogue and activities to grow as individuals and intercultural communicators.  Learning will be facilitated both inside and outside of the university setting, with experiences that will foster a greater understanding of Japanese and Ainu history, nature, and cultures.

Highlights of the Program:

• Seminars and visits with Hokkaido University’s Center for Ainu and Indigenous Studies in Sapporo.
• Visit to Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park.
• Visits and cultural exchanges between Ainu communities in Hokkaido.
• Intercultural training and welcome to Japan session with local intercultural communications expert and researcher.
• Tea ceremony, temple, gardens and shrine visits, forest and nature walks, seasonal festivals and market visits with discussions, journaling and reflection time.
• Activities and conversations with Japanese high school and university students, related to the following topics: relationship between nature, seasons, environment, and culture in Japan.
• Meetings with Quebec and Canada government representatives (Quebec Delegation and Canadian Embassy, Tokyo).

Application and Selection Process:

• Application Period: November 8, 2023 – November 30, 2023
• Interview Period: December 11 – 15, 2023
• Selection Announcement: December 20, 2023

Japan Summer Program Pre-Departure Process:

• Mandatory class – UNI299 (in-class time 1.5hrs & 1.5hrs outside class work).
• A mandatory pre-departure event will be held in April.

Program leaders for 2024:

Annick Corbeil, Director of International, Indigenous and Intercultural Relations
Vicky Boldo, Associate Director – Indigenous Initiatives
Brayden Hottot, Coordinator of Indigenous Student Support Services

Applicant Profile & Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for the Japan Summer Program, students should meet the following criteria:

• Self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, Inuit).
• Have completed at least one semester (full-time or part-time undergraduate program) at Bishop’s University.
• Be in good academic standing at the end of the Fall 2023 term (not on academic probation).
• Express interest in learning about Japan within a framework rooted in Indigenous values and perspectives.
• Be interested in learning about and, if it applies to them, sharing their Indigenous culture, teachings and ceremony with other participants in the program.
• Stand to represent their home university and their home community well while participating on the program.

Program Fees:

Bursaries covering between 75%-100% of Japan Summer Program costs will be offered to all student participants. If 100% of costs are not covered, the group will work together to fundraise and ensure that all students are able to cover the entire cost of the trip (lodging, meals, travel to Japan and within Japan, insurance, pre-departure and re-entry activities).

Selection Criteria:

• A maximum of 10 undergraduate students will be selected to participate in the program each year.
• This experience is meant to be a reflective and profound personal and academic journey; it is for anyone who seeks to engage insightfully and impactfully with the world. Applicants will be asked to explain how this experience will allow them to grow personally, academically, or professionally.
• This program is for undergraduate students who are not in their graduating year. Graduate students are also allowed to apply. However, Universities Canada does not cover graduate students therefore, you would need to find your own sources of funding. The ISSC office can assist in this process.

Application Process:

Students should apply using the application form below. The application period will open on November 8^th, 2023 and will close on November 30^th, 2023. Selected participants will receive an email inviting them to an interview.

Program Summary & Applicant Profile:

Member institutions of the Maple League of Universities have received a Global Skills Opportunity grant to develop and launch a program for Indigenous students to participate in an international experience together. The program is called “Nation to Nation: Building Indigenous Knowledge Across International Borders”.

Students from Acadia University, Bishop’s University, Mount Allison University, and St. Francis Xavier University will come together to have a short-term study abroad experience in Belize through Galen University in the spring 2023 term focusing on sharing their Indigenous experience and learning about other indigenous cultures abroad.

In May 2024, students will attend Galen University to have an immersive two-week experience that combines in-class teaching, field trips, community engagement, and group and individual reflection. Students will receive academic credit for their experience. The group will travel to multiple locations around Belize to learn about the Yucatec, Mopan, Garinagu and K’eckchi cultures of Belize. Guest speakers and visits to cultural sites will form the basis of this immersive learning journey.

The topics that will be covered in the course titled “Indigenous Cultures of Belize: Preserving Indigenous Culture and Heritage through Decolonizing the Narrative” are:

• Language Preservation (Ancient Maya Hieroglyphs, Garifuna, Yucatec, Mopan & K’ekchi)
• Cultural Heritage & Education
• Food
• Indigenous Governance & Land Rights
• Environment & Health
• Indigenous Innovations

Some highlights of the program will be:

• Meeting the Governor General of Belize, Froyla Tzalam (Mopan Maya).
• Visiting the Institute of Archaeology and the Institute of Social and Cultural Research to learn about the mandate of safeguarding Belize’s Indigenous cultures.
• Hearing from guest speakers, Christina Coc, Tim Mesh and Filiberto Penados that will discuss the Maya of southern Belize land rights case that won at the Caribbean Court of Justice again the Government of Belize.
• Workshops with local traditional healers.
• Visits to local farming communities to learn about staple crops, cacao and corn.
• Visit to the fishing community of Hopkins where students will snorkel and learn about fishing rights.

20 students from the four universities will be selected to participate in the program.  They will be accompanied by an Indigenous faculty member and an Indigenous Student Support person from one of the universities.

The application period will open on November 8^th, 2023 and will close on November 30^th, 2023.

Application and Selection Process:

• Application Period: November 8, 2023 – November 30, 2023
• Interview Period: December 4 – 12, 2023
• Selection Announcement: December 20, 2023

Pre-Departure Preparations:

• Mandatory class – UNI299 (in-class time 1.5hrs & 1.5hrs outside class work)
• A mandatory pre-departure event will be held on February 23^rd – 25^th, 2024
• January-April 2024 (various workshops and information sessions for participants)

Program leaders for 2024:

• Genner Llanes-Ortiz, Canadian Research Chair in Digital Indigeneities & Associate Professor in Sociology (Bishop’s University)
• Shawna Jerome, Coordinator of Indigenous Student Support Services (Bishop’s University)
• An additional support person TBD

Applicant Profile & Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for the ML GSO Program, students should meet the following criteria:

• Have completed at least one term of studies at their home university.
• Be in good academic standing at the end of the Fall 2023 term.
• Be interested in adding an international experience to their degree.
• Be interested in sharing their Indigenous culture, teachings and ceremony with other participants in the program as well as learning from other participants about their Indigenous culture, teachings and ceremony.
• Be interested in sharing their Indigenous culture, teachings and ceremony in Belize.
• Stands to represent their home university and their home community well while participating in the program.

Program Fees:

There are 20 full bursaries to cover the entire program fee for students that identify as Indigenous.

The program fee will be inclusive of the following expenses:

• tuition for one 3-credit course
• return airfare to Belize
• accommodation in Belize for 14 days
• meals (3 meals per day for 14 days)
• insurance
• in-country transportation and other program-related fees
• pre-departure meeting fees (transportation, meals, housing, & any other fees)

Selection Criteria:

• Approximately 3-5 students from each of the Maple League universities will be selected to participate in the program. A total of 20 students may be eligible to attend the program.
• This program is ideally suited to a student that is looking to gain knowledge and have an impactful experience. Applicants will be asked to explain how this experience will allow them to grow personally on their journey.
• This program is for undergraduate students who are not in their graduating year. Graduate students are also allowed to apply. However, Universities Canada does not cover graduate students therefore, you would need to find your own sources of funding. The ISSC office can assist in this process.

A supplemental application form will be available for students to apply for additional funding to cover costs such as dependent care, passport applications, vaccinations, other.

Application Process:

Students should apply through the home university by using the application form that can be found on this page starting on November 8th. Students can apply between November 8^th to 30^th, 2023. Each university will have a selection committee to interview their own internal applicants. The committee will recommend up to 5 internal applicants to the program.

Acceptance letters will be sent out by December 20th to selected participants.