Indigenous focus
UVic is committed to reconciliation. We’re building better and meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. We’re working to bring our university into better harmony with Indigenous cultures, beliefs and ways of being. Indigenous people and communities are an important part of building our university for the future.
Territory acknowledgement
We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Vice-President Indigenous
Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas is the founding Vice-President Indigenous (OVPI). The VPI provides leadership and direction that furthers UVic's commitment to truth, respect and reconciliation as identified in our Strategic Plan and the Indigenous Plan.
UVic’s Indigenous Plan
UVic’s first Indigenous Plan builds on our longstanding commitment to and relationships with Indigenous communities. We are working to increase educational opportunities and success for Indigenous students. We are developing new and expanded educational, research and student services programming with an Indigenous focus.
Our plan establishes ambitious goals and clear accountability to ensure its successful implementation.
Indigenous connections
At UVic we continue to build on our commitment to—and our greatly valued relationship with—Indigenous communities. The Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement offers a range of programs and events designed to develop and nurture those relationships.
Indigenous students
More than 1,400 Indigenous students—including over 200 graduate students—choose UVic for their studies each year.
Indigenous programs
We offer a variety of Indigenous-focused programs in a number of fields across the university. All UVic students have opportunities to learn about contemporary issues and historical contexts, and to participate in community-based and experiential learning programming.
Indigenous research
Researchers across the university work closely with local and international Indigenous communities and organizations on projects vital to Indigenous people, families, communities and nations.
Indigenous language revitalization
Indigenous languages hold a wealth of knowledge and unique expression. Each language carries and represents a whole history, relationship to the land and distinct ways of thinking. They hold unique knowledge about living in the world, including traditions and ceremony.
For over 40 years, UVic has been a leader in supporting local and national Indigenous language revitalization efforts.
