Indigenous students
The Indigenous Circle acknowledges with respect the lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) people, whose traditional territory encompasses the space now occupied by the University of Victoria. We raise our hands to the past, present and future stewards of this land upon which we live, love and learn.
To better serve our students, we offer opportunities for distance education students across Canada to access our Indigenous academic programs online. We look forward to meeting you!
About the Indigenous Circle
The Indigenous Circle (IC) is a group that meets monthly during the winter session and is open to all Indigenous faculty, staff and sessional instructors in the School of Social Work. The IC is chaired by an Indigenous faculty member.
Some of the IC's responsibilities include:
- overseeing curriculum development for our Indigenous specialization programs
- developing and redeveloping of Indigenous-focused courses in social work
- coordinating resources/workshops/events for Indigenous social work students
- assisting with policy/procedure changes that align with the School's commitment towards Indigenization/decolonization
Program specializations
The School of Social Work offers Indigenous specializations as part of both our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs.
These specializations are designed to promote Indigenous helping and healing practices and to strengthen collectivity within urban and rural communities. Both programs give you the opportunity to engage in culturally relevant social work practices.
We are committed to offering courses that recognize the history of Indigenous child welfare in Canada, driven by a core belief that all Indigenous children deserve safety.
Admission to Indigenous specializations is limited to students of Indigenous ancestry. We define Indigenous to be inclusive of students who come from various nationhoods, such as First Nations (status or non-status), Métis and Inuit who are Indigenous to North America. Please note that we value relational concepts regarding identity and do not exclusively rely on government-imposed identities.
Indigenous student supports
The Faculty of Health maintains a list of resources for Indigenous students in the School of Social Work support you in your studies and connecting with the community.
Elizabeth Hill Chi-Meegwetch Fund
The School of Social Work maintains a modest fund in honor of Elizabeth Hill—one of Canada's leading scholars in the policy and practice of social work with Native communities —to assist Indigenous BSW students with their learning journey.
The bursary amount changes each year and may be distributed to more than 1 applicant. A call for applications will be sent via email in the fall. If you have any questions about the fund, contact the Indigenous programs assistant.
Visit the Faculty of Health site for more information about financial assistance.
In 1976, Elizabeth entered Simon Fraser University, majoring in psychology before transferring to the Bachelor of Social Work program at the University of British Columbia where she earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work.
An exceptional social work educator, Elizabeth was widely recognized as an outstanding teacher, a skilled administrator and a respected clinician. She believed that Native peoples should hold all power for their own community development, their own human services, their government structures and cultural destiny. She worked tirelessly to promote these goals.
As one of Canada's leading social work scholars in the policy and practice of social work with Native communities, Elizabeth’s research efforts were closely consistent with Native values and priorities and served to merge academic study with traditional ways of thinking and analyzing.
Elizabeth had strong links to traditional Native communities where she was respected as a leader and innovator. She was instrumental in the original design and implementation of Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre, one of the few Native child and family service agencies in Canada. Ma Mawi's Board is composed entirely of Native members, staffed by Native professionals and serves Native people living in Winnipeg and surrounding reserve communities.
Elizabeth was also the driving force behind the creation of the Elizabeth Hill Counselling Centre, formerly named the Community Resource Clinic. Elizabeth recognized the need for the provision of quality services in Winnipeg's inner city, and the importance of training clinical social workers and psychologists to work with inner city families.
Because of her substantial knowledge of child and family services, and her close affiliation with Native communities, Elizabeth frequently served as a consultant to provincial and federal government departments. In Manitoba, she served as a member of the Provincial Child Abuse Committee and the Provincial Victims Assistance Committee.
Perhaps her most enthusiastic consultation efforts were with reserve communities in Manitoba and across Canada. She dedicated herself to do all she could to enhance the present and future life circumstances of Native children. For these, and other efforts on behalf of Native communities, she was nominated for the Order of Canada.
In all her efforts, Elizabeth was an outstanding role model for fledgling social workers, for those advancing the circumstances of women in our society, and for Native people struggling to reform the Canadian social service structure.
Elizabeth Hill died August 30, 1991. Her spirit was set free to join the Creator where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet. She will remain alive in the hearts of the many people who loved her.
Community events
Indigenous recognition ceremony
Twice a year, the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement (IACE) hosts an Indigenous recognition ceremony at the First Peoples House to honour graduates of our Indigenous programs. Every year this turns out to be a fun and exciting event for students, family, friends and faculty.
The Indigenous recognition ceremony is rooted in the traditions of the people of the land. After feasting, graduates are presented with gifts and blanketed according to Coast Salish protocol.
Community honouring feast
The Indigenous Circle hosts a biennial honouring feast to show gratitude to our Indigenous specialization community partners and practicum supervisors. Coast Salish protocol is followed in recognizing the individuals and organizations who continue to work with our program.
Contact us
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the School of Social Work and our Indigenous programs and initiatives, do not hesitate to contact the Indigenous programs assistant.