Six Nations Polytechnic is an Indigenous-owned and controlled postsecondary and secondary educational institution in Ohsweken, Ontario.
Six Nations Polytechnic is a progressive Indigenous-owned and controlled educational institution, recognized by the community, government, and institutions of higher learning as a Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Knowledge. Its mission is to positively contribute to the well-being of all who share this land and to create and preserve knowledge specific to Ogwehoweh languages and culture. Its vision is to achieve international distinction for excellence in Indigenous education, Indigenous language revitalization and continuance of Indigenous knowledge. The institution is located at 2160 Fourth Line, PO Box 700, Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0.
Driven by community, Six Nations Polytechnic was conceived in the fall of 1991 as a community-based postsecondary education and training institute. In 1993, as the Grand River Polytechnical Institute, it offered its first programming around employment preparation. By 1994, a University Consortium Articulation was signed with McMaster University, Brock University, the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University, enabling students to complete the first year of their undergraduate degree in the community. By 2010, an Ogwehoweh Language Diploma offered in both Cayuga and Mohawk was developed. In 2009, the Indigenous Knowledge Centre, also called Deyohahá:ge: (meaning Two Roads in the Cayuga language), was established.
By 2016, the institution was granted ministerial consent to provide its signature Bachelor of Arts in Ogwehoweh Languages, described as the first Indigenous language university degree in Ontario, Canada, and possibly the world. It is the only place in Canada where one can attain this degree in Mohawk or Cayuga. Smaller class sizes are offered across all formal educational program areas, with distinguished instructors. In 2017, secondary programming was added through the SNP STEAM Academy, whose first cohort graduated in 2021.
In 2016, the institution opened a second campus. The Brantford and Six Nations campuses offer classrooms, labs, event spaces and more. Facilities and services include an Academic Support Centre (Achievement Centre), laptops and high-speed internet for students, and a Places 4 Students housing partnership.
Applicants can apply via Ontario Colleges (OntarioColleges.ca) or through a program-specific application. Other routes include Mature Applicant (University) and the SNP Secondary School head-start.