Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement

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First Peoples House at night

First Peoples House

The First Peoples House is a social, cultural and academic centre for Indigenous students and serves as a safe and welcoming place that encourages the building of community.

Indigenous Recognition Ceremony

Indigenous Recognition Ceremony

IACE organizes a special Indigenous Recognition Ceremony (IRC) for Indigenous students in the spring and fall. The next IRC is planned for June 2023.

Victoria Underwood drummed into ceremony

Honouring our Elders

Respected Elder "Old One" Victor Underwood from Tsawout First Nation receives his Honorary Doctorate in the Ceremonial Hall.

Mini-U

Indigenous Mini-University Summer Camp

Mini-U is an educational program that introduces Indigenous students (First Nations, status/non-status, Métis and Inuit) from grade 9-12 residing in B.C. to a taste of university life.

Australian students being welcomed at the FPH

Welcoming exchange students

Indigenous International WIL Exchange Welcome Ceremony for the arrival of two incoming Aboriginal students from Macquarie University in Australia.

Cultural Activities for Indigenous Students

LE,NOṈET Campus Cousins Program

Join our team - we're hiring two work study positions for Indigenous students!
Indigenous Events Assistant
Indigenous Communications Assistant 
 
Héʔəkʷ ʔə cə čəléŋən ɫtə
HÁEQ TE OL TŦE ĆELÁṈEN TE
Remember our ancestors and birthright

Nəc̓əmaat kʷəns čeʔi
ĆȺNEUEL OL
Work together

Nəw̓es šxʷ cən ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən
ÁMEḴT TŦEN ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN
Bring in your good heart and mind

Leʔt šxʷ helə ʔə cə mak̓ʷ sčeʔi səʔ
S,HOI EI MEQ EN ENA SE SĆȺ
Be prepared for the work to come

Lək̓ʷəŋən – top
SENĆOŦEN – middle
 
Committed to creating a learning environment that is supportive of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

 

"Our mission is to create a home away from home for Indigenous students."

Office hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. -  4:30 p.m.
This includes: IACE, student lounge, computer room and shared lunch room.
Closed for lunch 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m

Meet with an IACE staff member

If you would like to meet with an IACE staff member at the First Peoples House, you can come by and talk to the IACE receptionist in Room 140 or call or email the staff member ahead to make appointment at iaceservices@uvic.ca or 250-853-3730. 


What we do

IACE's primary responsibility is supporting Indigenous students, but the office has also taken on many other roles, such as:
  • Managing the First Peoples House
  • Building and supporting Indigenous partnerships
  • Ensuring that Indigenous content and ways of knowing are included in UVic curriculum and events
  • Support Indigenous student success

 

Follow us on social media

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We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.