Vice-President Indigenous

The University of Victoria has prioritized the development of a university-wide Indigenous strategy. This strategy will be a step toward ensuring that Indigenous ways of knowing are respected and supported, and that they permeate and enrich everything we do at the university. Moving this important work forward will require challenging conversations about what we value and prioritize as an institution, and how we contribute to decolonization in a good way.

The University of Victoria acknowledges and respects the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Territory acknowledgement

Role & mandate

The Vice-President Indigenous (VPI) provides leadership and direction that furthers UVic's commitment to truth, respect and reconciliation as identified in our Strategic Framework (priority 4: Foster respect and reconciliation) and the Indigenous Plan. The VPI is responsible for:

• the development of a strategy that integrates Indigenous cultures, histories, beliefs and ways of being and knowing across all aspects of the university’s mission.
• supporting the work of the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement including student supports and community connections.
• working closely with the office of Equity and Human Rights on a coordinated approach to systemic issues.

The VPI will seek guidance and direction from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, colleagues and community leaders to achieve this visionary direction.

As the founding VPI, Qwul'sih'yah'maht Robina Thomas is an integral member of the leadership team and reports to President Hall. The UVic executive leadership team is committed to walking alongside Robina and to helping achieve our shared objectives.

Robina was appointed as the founding Associate Vice-President Indigenous in April 2021 and became VP Indigenous as of April 1, 2022.

For more information

• Appointment of Vice-President Indigenous (April 4, 2022)
• Media release — Accountability to ancestors and community key in new Indigenous leadership role
• Article — Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas steps into new role as Associate Vice President Indigenous
• Announcement of a new Indigenous leadership role at UVic

About the VP Indigenous

Qwul’sih’yah’maht Robina Thomas is a member of Lyackson First Nation. She has Snuy’ney’muxw ancestry through her grandmother Lavina Wyse and Sto:lo ancestry through her grandfather Charles Prest.

Robina was the inaugural director and executive director of the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement (IACE) and special advisor to the president. She is an associate professor with a faculty position in the School of Social Work where she started her career at UVic as a visiting lecturer in 1998 and accepted a tenure track position in 2001.

Robina's research has focused extensively on Indigenous women and children, residential schools, storytelling, Indigenous community engagement and anti-colonial/anti-racist practices as a way of life.

Robina’s accomplishments as the executive director of IACE and special advisor to the president have included:

• Leading the establishment of the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement and facilitated the release of the university’s first Indigenous Plan;
• Re-establishing the Indigenous Cultural Acumen Training program and piloting a program to pay Elders as Specialist Instructors;
• Creating space for Indigenous representation on numerous university committees; and
• Co-chairing the National Building Reconciliation Forum.

Connections

• Indigenous Plan 2017–2022
• Indigenous events and resources at UVic
• Indigenous research
• Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement
  • First Peoples House
  • Indigenous student services
  • SELW̱ÁN SḰÁL (Elders' Voices)

Academic programs with an Indigenous focus

• Child and Youth Care [BCYC, MA, PhD, Graduate Diploma]
• Foundations in Indigenous Fine Arts [Certificate]
• Indigenous Education [MA, MEd, Graduate Certificate]
• Indigenous Language Revitalization [BEd, Certificate]
• Indigenous Governance [MA, Graduate Certificate]
• Indigenous Studies [BA, Minor]
• Law [JD, JID, LLM, PhD, Graduate Certificate]
• Public Health and Social Policy [MPH, Graduate Diploma]
• Social Work [BSW, MSW]

Community

The VPI co-chairs the Indigenous Community Engagement Council (ICEC). The ICEC provides a forum for discussion among local Chiefs, community leaders and UVic leadership. Members of the ICEC advise and support UVic in the implementation of the Strategic Framework and Indigenous Plan. 

About the team

Contact us

Find contact information for the Office of the Vice-President Indigenous in the UVic directory.