In response to the growing concern about the quality of education in northern schools, the College of Education initiated an experimental summer session in 1961 aimed at the education of teachers for Indian and Metis communities. The success of the session prompted the creation of the Indian and Northern Education Program the following year. The goal of the program was to provide teachers intending to work in northern communities with the special skills needed to be productive in that environment. The program offers undergraduate, graduate and summer session classes and has published the periodicals "The Northian", "The Northian Newsletter", and "The Northian Research Bulletin". Recently the program became part of the Department of Educational Foundations. The following have served as head of the Program: A. Renaud (1962-1974); A.J. Dyer (1975-1985); C. King (1985-1992).