Indigenous Governance and Business Management
Credentials available
- Bachelor of Management (Winter 2025 intake) Bachelor of Business Administration (Fall 2025 intake)
- Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management (Winter 2025 intake) Post-Diploma Bachelor of Business Administration (Fall 2025 intake)
- Bachelor of Management as a Second Degree (Winter 2025 intake) Bachelor of Business Administration as a Second Degree (Fall 2025 intake)
- Combined degree (Lethbridge Campus)
- Diploma in Indigenous Governance & Business Management
- Management Certificate
Campus
- Lethbridge
Intake
Program description
Please note, effective July 1, 2025, the Bachelor of Management (BMgt) degree will change to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Students applying to the business degree program for Winter 2025 will be admitted to the BMgt program. Students applying for Fall 2025 and later will be admitted to the BBA program. Learn more about the transition of the BMgt to the BBA.
Indigenous governance and business management (IGBM) provides Indigenous and non-Indigenous graduates with skills to take on leadership and managerial roles in band administration, the not-for-profit sector, Indigenous liaison work, federal and international relations, oil and gas, agriculture or your own entrepreneurial enterprises.
As an Indigenous or non-Indigenous IGBM student, you’ll gain significant insight into Indigenous historical, political, legal and economic issues while acquiring strong business skills and managerial competency. You’ll study essential topics such as Indigenous peoples and law, historical and legal aspects of Indigenous governments, Indigenous business and entrepreneurship, Indigenous peoples and natural resources, Canadian Indigenous project management, Canadian Indigenous tax issues and Canadian Indigenous negotiations. You will also acquire skills in finance, accounting, human resources and organizational behaviour.
Certificate, diploma and degree options
Choose the Indigenous governance and business management program that's right for you:
- 10-course certificate in Management (IGBM focus)
- 20-course IGBM diploma (approximately two-years)
- 40-course business degree program: BMgt major in IGBM
- direct from high school or as a mature student
- post-diploma college transfer
- second-degree
You can also choose a minor to enhance your knowledge in a secondary line of study. Many minors complement IGBM well, such as Indigenous health, accounting, marketing, environmental studies, fintech and financial innovation, family and small business management and supply chain and operations management. Learn more about our available minors.
Why take Indigenous governance and business management at the Dhillon School of Business?
The Dhillon School of Business has been a leader in supportive and community-guided Indigenous business education since 1985. As an IGBM graduate, you’ll be positioned to be a leader in today’s business world, equipped with an understanding of the complexities of working with, for, or as Indigenous businesses and nations. All IGBM programs are offered through an innovative partnership between the Dhillon School of Business and the Department of Indigenous Studies.
Many of our students also enrol in co-operative education. Co-op allows you to get paid work experience before you graduate and can even help you land a job immediately after graduation.
Employment stats for a career in Indigenous governance and business management*
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Job postings in the last 12 months
- Canada: 1,871
- Alberta: 181
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Average salary
- Canada (zero to five years experience): $79,100
- Canada (six years of experience or more): 120,800
- Alberta (zero to five years experience): $85,700
- Alberta (six years of experience or more): N/A
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Top employers hiring*
Canada:
- B.C. Public Service
- Government of B.C.
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Stantec
- First Nations Financial Management Board
Alberta:
- Government of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Alberta
- The Salvation Army
- Métis Nation of Albert
* Employment data provided by Lightcast 2024.
The advantages of being a Dhillon School of Business student
Experiential learning
You’ll have lots of opportunities to apply the theories you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life, hands-on situations as well as programs to help you connect with our student community. As a Dhillon student, you'll have access to these experiential programs and more:
- Co-operative Education (Co-op)
- DSB Edge
- Student Professional Development
- Integrated Management Experience (IME)
- Student Managed Investment Fund
- Dhillon School of Business student clubs
- International exchanges
- Case competitions
Visit the Dhillon School of Business to learn more about our student experiences and opportunities.
Education that’s personal
Our students say they chose the Dhillon School of Business because of the smaller class sizes and more personal and supportive approach to teaching. Here you’ll get many opportunities to connect and interact with your professors and peers to set you up for success.
Flexible study options
Whether you’re a traditional student interested in our Lethbridge campus with full-time classes during the day or a working professional interested in the Calgary Campus’s evening and weekend classes, we have a flexible study option for you.
Internationally-recognized quality
As an AACSB accredited business school, the Dhillon School of Business have met very rigorous quality standards proven to provide you with the best in business education worldwide. You can trust that your education here will give you a distinct advantage in the real world including more competitive salaries, more employers interested in you after graduation and more. See all our professional accreditations and designations.
Possible careers
Top job titles in Alberta and/or Canada
- Knowledge manager
- Policy analyst
- Integrated team lead
- Cultural coordinator
- Shared services specialist
Other possible careers
- MLA
- Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner
- Learning Facilitator
- Indigenous Relations
- Engagement Officer
- Band Council Member
- Community Development Officer
- Cultural Affairs Officer
- Historical Researcher
- Management Consultant
- Economic Development Officer
- Policy Development Officer
- Political Researcher
- Public Relations
- Researcher
You'll also be better prepared to go on to post-graduate education or law school.
Admission requirements
For admission, Canadian high school students in Alberta must have completed five of the following courses with a minimum 65% average across them:
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Not a Canadian high school student in Alberta? Find your admission requirements here
First year cost estimator
For Indigenous Governance and Business Management
Let us help you understand your tuition and fees for your first year at the University of Lethbridge.
Sample classes
- IGBM 3515: Canadian Indigenous Negotiations
- IGBM 3522: Canadian Indigenous Project Management
- IGBM 4501: Canadian Indigenous Tax Issues
- IGBM 4570 - Indigenous Leadership and Management
- IGBM 2500: Introduction to Indigenous Governance and Business Management
For a complete list of courses available in our Indigenous Governance and Business Management program, check out our program planning guide.