For Immediate Release- September 8, 2021

AFOA Canada & AFOA British Columbia- Breaking Down Barriers for Indigenous Students
AFOA Canada & AFOA BC Partners with Langara College as a New Ally in Indigenous Education

AFOA Canada, AFOA British Columbia (AFOA BC), and Langara College have partnered to bring forward a collaborative effort to deliver a pilot cohort of AFOA Canada’s Indigenous Financial Management Certificate.

This unique partnership, a first of its kind for accounting education in BC, will see a cohort of students from Indigenous communities, and those currently working in Indigenous Governments, study fully accredited post-secondary accounting courses in combination with AFOA Canada’s Indigenous content courses.  The goal of the partnership is to recruit a cohort of students from Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia to enroll in the program and complete all the course requirements to attain the certificate. The goal of the partnership is to build financial capacity within Indigenous Governments and communities, to support their goal of self-determination.

“We know that post-secondary education can be daunting for Indigenous communities and we are trying to find ways to support students in their education as well as allow them to stay living in their communities,” says Wendy Ham, Executive Director of AFOA BC, “we are excited to try this unique “stepping stone” approach to the CAFM certification.”

“Partnerships, such as this one, create a pathway for students to achieve their academic goals in financial management,” says Terry Goodtrack, President and CEO, AFOA Canada.  “Students can now focus on what they do best.  There is no limit to what they can achieve!  At AFOA We’re Ready to help.”

“At Langara College we are committed to supporting Indigenous students,” said Dr. Lane Trotter, Langara College’s President and CEO. “We are honoured to participate in this unique initiative supporting Indigenous students throughout BC in obtaining critical financial management education.”    

The Indigenous Financial Management Certificate is the first step towards obtaining AFOA Canada’s Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation.  Students who enroll in this pilot program can also apply to transfer several of these credits to pursue further studies through Langara College, and to the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) program of studies. AFOA Canada owns, administers, and awards the Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation.

Background:

AFOA Canada

AFOA Canada, founded in 1999, strives towards their mandate to help Indigenous people better manage and govern their communities and organizations through a focus on enhancing management, finance and governance practices and skills.  It is the only organization in Canada that focuses on the capacity development and day-to-day needs of those Indigenous professionals who are working in all areas of management, finance, band administration, leadership and program management—We are Building a Community of Professionals.

AFOA BC

Originally established in 1996, AFOA BC was founded in response to the need for a united voice for those working in the critical fields of Indigenous finance and administration in this province. AFOA BC subsequently played an instrumental role in creating the national organization AFOA Canada.

Together AFOA Canada and AFOA BC are recognized and certified to provide the latest in advanced Indigenous management, finance, and governance training, and continue to support Indigenous students to realize their dreams and goals. 

Langara College – snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓

Langara College is located on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation. Langara was honoured to receive a name from Musqueam in their language, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, which means house of teachings. Langara is one of BC’s leading undergraduate post-secondary institutions providing University Studies, Career Studies, and Continuing Studies programs and courses to more than 23,000 students annually. Langara’s accounting related courses are accredited as transfer credit to the Chartered Professional Accountants program of professional studies.

For more information, please contact:

Krysta Elliott
Capacity Development & Communications Manager
AFOA BC
Phone (604) 925-6370 ext.  7040