Native Education

Governance

NEC Board of Directors

The NEC Native Education College is a private post-secondary college and designated by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Private Training Institutions Branch. The College operates in accordance to the Private Training Act, and is governed by nine elected members of the Board of Directors. These members are also part of the NEC Society.

Current Board of Directors

The board of directors brings a variety of skills, perspectives and expertise to the table. We use this to support the best interests of all Nations in BC.

Chief Jen Thomas,

Director

Tony Robinson,

Treasurer

Bruce Underwood,

Secretary

Edward John

Chair

Mary Point,

Vice Chair

Louise Point,

Director

Management

President

Tammy Harkey

president@necvancouver.org

Vice President of Strategic Innovation, People & Culture

Amanda Kai

akai@necvancouver.org

Vice President of Academics

Tamara Starblanket, BA, LL.B., LL.M

tstarblanket@necvancouver.org

Vice President of Finance and Enrollments

Nancy Xue, B.Sc., CPA, CGA

nxue@necvancouver.org

NEC Board of Directors Meeting

Board meeting January 26, 2022

Board meeting May 11, 2022

Board meeting May 25, 2022

Board meeting November 23, 2022

Board meeting January 25, 2023

Our Story

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NEC History

The Native Education College (NEC) was established in 1967 and founded by Ray Collins who worked at the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. The College, then called the Native Education Centre, began as a project to meet the educational needs of Indigenous people who relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia from their rural First Nation communities. The overall objective was to provide Indigenous adult learners with the academic and life skills to secure employment and improve their quality of life. By 1979, NEC became a private college, operated and controlled by BC First Nations.

Join us in celebrating

Our 55 Anniversary

1967

NEC was established and founded by Ray Collins. The college, was then called Native Education Centre

NEC NOW

Today the College provides a supportive learning environment, including cultural activities, which creates a connection to the Indigenous community of Metro Vancouver.

We strive to meet workforce demands by delivering a variety of academic programs that are pathways to careers.

Indigenous learners can start their learning journey by choosing one of the 10 transferrable certificate or diploma programs.

Academic Programming

At Native Education College, we offer various programs in Academic Upgrading, Business, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities & Fine Arts. Most of our certificate and diploma programs are transferrable to other post-secondary schools in British Columbia.

Every year, NEC delivers project specific programming. In 2017, we added The Essential: Skills, Culture, & Knowledge, a funded program designed for individuals facing barriers, who are planning to enter into the workforce for the first time, return after an absence, or those changing careers.  In 2018, we added Justice and Public Safety Career Preparatory Certificate which will prepare Indigenous learners for options working in paramedicine, firefighting, corrections, policing and law enforcement