UVic is this year's host for the fourth annual Building Reconciliation Forum (Nov. 15-16), in partnership with Universities Canada. This year’s theme is Ts’its’u’ watul tseep, meaning to help one another. Free public events include an Indigenous artisans market on Nov. 16 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in First Peoples House.
Cindy Blackstock will present "Spirit Bear's Guide to Reconciliation" at UVic's First Peoples House on Nov. 14. On Nov. 13, as part of Fall Convocation, UVic will acknowledge Blackstock for her many achievements, presenting her and Spirit Bear with honorary degrees.
When Marie Cooper (SWETALIYE) received her Honorary Doctor of Education degree from UVic in 2010, it was a moment she had been steering toward her entire life. A teacher, counsellor, Elder, advocate and innovator, Dr. Cooper’s efforts to promote and defend Indigenous education, language and culture led to the inclusive transformation of educational policies and practices for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
Local Kwagiulth and Coast Salish artist Carey Newman is announced as the sixth Audain Professor of Contemporary Art Practice of the Pacific Northwest with UVic’s Department of Visual Arts. He will bring issues and perspectives around reconciliation into his classes at UVic.
I want to acknowledge and recognize the expressions of concern and distress from many members of the University of Victoria community and across the country over the circumstances around the death of Colten Boushie and its aftermath. On behalf of the University of Victoria, I support the Universities Canada statement.
UVic has been selected to host the 2018 National Building Reconciliation Forum this fall. The announcement was made in November by Universities Canada at the 2017 forum in Winnipeg.
A new language revitalization project led by UVic will bring new life and strength to Indigenous languages in Canada. NEȾOLṈEW̱, which translates as 'one mind, one people' in SENĆOŦEN, is a six-year project supported by a $2.5M SSHRC Partnership Grant that will create a learning and research network with nine Indigenous-led partner organizations across the country.
Universities Canada announced Nov. 10 that UVic will host the 2018 National Building Reconciliation Forum, with a focus on Indigenous language revitalization and economic growth of Indigenous communities. This annual national initiative reflects the commitment to action on reconciliation through higher education.
During the week of Sept. 25-30, many UVic faculty, staff and students will wear orange shirts to show respect for residential school survivors and their families, and a commitment to the principle that every child matters.
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This week, UVic launches its Indigenous Plan. The launch is a key event during this year’s Indigenous Week of Welcome. The plan sets out ambitious goals and clear accountability to increase educational opportunities and success for Indigenous students and further develop education, research, outreach and engagement initiatives and programs with an Indigenous focus.
As a key event during the Indigenous Week of Welcome (Sept. 11–14), UVic is launching its first Indigenous Plan. "The plan places Indigenous students, faculty, staff and their communities at its heart and will guide our work over the coming years," says UVic President Jamie Cassels.
UVic ethnobotanist Nancy Turner, as part of her legacy and the 2015 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship, is leading a four-day ethnoecology symposium at UVic (now full to capacity), which will also feature a keynote address on May 3 by renowned essayist John Ralston Saul.
Reflections by Maxwell Nicholson, second-year economics student, on the Converge 2017 conference—where leaders, students, politicians and university executives came together to develop a vision for Canada's future.
On Saturday, the Indigenous versions of the Douglas Treaties—never before available in the local languages—will be presented in a ceremony at the Songhees Wellness Centre (during a three-day gathering) to the Royal BC Museum to be kept in perpetuity.
The presentation of the first-ever translations in the local Indigenous languages of the original Douglas Treaties of the colony of Vancouver Island is a pivotal element in a historic event taking place Feb. 24-26 in Victoria as part of UVic's Canada 150 celebrations.
