Northwest Community College (NWCC) is a post-secondary educational institution that serves the residents of northwest British Columbia. NWCC was first established in Terrace in 1975.. It has since expanded to campuses in nine northwest British Columbia communities: Hazelton; Houston; Kitimat; Masset; Prince Rupert; Queen Charlotte; Skidegate; Smithers; and Terrace. The NWCC, through its First Nations Council, has entered into a relationship with the Nisga'a Wilp Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a (“Nisga'a House of Learning”) to promote and enable resident of the Nass Valley region to obtain post-secondary education. NWCC offers a certificate and degree program in First Nations Fine Art through the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art at the Terrace campus. The Freda Diesing School specializes in teaching the northern style of west coast first nations art. This program is the first of its kind in North America, offering accredited courses recognized by the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.