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Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day, designated to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.  Our work in the area of reconciliation has been an institutional priority.  We have been able to make key milestones and events permanent highlights of our annual university calendar and have established a foundation for further progress in the future.  

 

Over the past year, we observed Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with educational events to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools.  We lit up George Martin Hall in orange and closed the university in honour of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  The Lodhi Memorial Lecture in Human Rights featured Dr. John Borrows on Indigenous law, and we hosted another Eagle Feather Ceremony for Indigenous graduates as part of Spring Convocation.  Our newly established Indigenous Experiential Learning program coordinated internships specifically for Indigenous students.  They also hosted workshops and other events for students, faculty, and staff. The Spring Convocation in May recognized and awarded an Honourary Degree to Elder Margaret (Maggie) Paul.  Later this week, the Senate will receive a new strategic plan from the Senate Committee on Reconciliation which will guide our activities.  The  site celebrates our Indigenous community and highlights events, dates, and resources. 

 

Since raising the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’Kmaq flags on our campus on October 15, 2018, they have served as daily reminders of the importance of the work we must continue to undertake.  We have a number of new events planned for the coming year.  An Indigenous Film Festival from October 28-30 will showcase a feature film by an Indigenous filmmaker along with short films by Indigenous and non-Indigenous students on topics relevant to reconciliation.  We are also inaugurating a Chancellor’s Lecture Series on Indigenous Issues that has been endowed by our Chancellor and holder of our Endowed Chair in Native Studies Graydon Nicholas and his wife Beth.  The first lecture on October 27 will be delivered by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitksan First Nation with 25 years of social work experience in child protection and Indigenous children’s rights.  We will share more information on these events as we move closer to the fall semester. 

 

This initial progress is the result of the work of our Senate Committee on Reconciliation which was created in 2016, staff in Indigenous Student Services and Indigenous Experiential Learning, as well as our Student Reconciliation Committee and partners among Indigenous communities and leaders.  I want to thank them for their accomplishments as we work collectively to educate our community and raise awareness about reconciliation. 

 

Thank you. 

Dawn Russell
President and Vice-Chancellor