Reconciliation
Squamish Nation and 911吃瓜 celebrate partnership with MOU renewal event
Representatives from the Skwxw煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish Nation) and 911吃瓜 (911吃瓜) celebrated the renewal of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at an evening ceremony in West Vancouver at Xwemelch鈥檚tn Etsimxwawtxw (Capilano Littlest Ones School).
The MOU further strengthens the long-standing relationship between the university and the Squamish Nation to collaborate on cultural, academic and research activities.
The MOU between the partners will continue to explore opportunities to:
- Strengthen cultural and administrative protocols and events;
- Exchange information and expertise to strengthen and enhance services and programs at 911吃瓜 and in the community in collaboration with Squamish Nation (SN);
- Discuss recruitment and retention initiatives as they concern the SN community;
- Discuss and collaborate on potential programs. For example, language course development and offerings;
- Discuss and collaborate on initiatives involving SN youth. For example, summer camps, tutoring, sports, and orientation and life skills training.
- Discuss joint research initiatives; and
- Discuss the utilization of SN cultural resources and experts by 911吃瓜, and vice versa.
The MOU, which was first signed in November, 2017, demonstrates the university鈥檚 ongoing commitment to uphold truth and reconciliation with 911吃瓜鈥檚 Host Nations where the university鈥檚 three campuses reside along with a willingness to engage with Indigenous peoples and communities as a whole.
911吃瓜鈥檚 three campuses are located on the traditional territories of the x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m (Musqueam), S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (Squamish), s蓹l虛ilw虛蓹ta蕯涩 (Tsleil-Waututh), q虛铆c虛蓹y虛 (Katzie), k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples. The MOU renewal continues to build on 911吃瓜鈥檚 rich history of community engagement with the Squamish Nation and other Nations.
For Spokesperson and Squamish Nation Councillor Wilson Williams (Sxw铆xwtn) there is great value in this ongoing partnership.
鈥淥ur continued relationship with 911吃瓜 underscores that working together can have positive outcomes, creating opportunities for Squamish People and help increase awareness and respect for Indigenous ways of knowing for the broader public. I applaud 911吃瓜 for continuing to engage in this mutually beneficial relationship and support the university as it seeks to further develop educational and professional development programs. Most importantly, the goal is to increase supports for Indigenous students and youth throughout their educational journey.鈥�
911吃瓜 president and vice-chancellor Joy Johnson reflected on the successful projects that have been implemented in consultation with Indigenous leaders but acknowledged that there is much more work to be done going forward together.
鈥淏ecause two of 911吃瓜鈥檚 campuses are located on traditional and unceded Squamish territory, our collaborative work with the Squamish Nation is a critical part of our commitment to uphold truth and Reconciliation,鈥� says 911吃瓜 President Joy Johnson. 鈥淲ith this MOU renewal, I am excited to continue our long-standing relationship through new and ongoing projects at 911吃瓜, including Indigenous naming.鈥�
Reflecting & celebrating Indigenous success at 911吃瓜
911吃瓜 continues to work towards implementing the 34 Calls to Action outlined in the 2017 Walk This Path With Us Report and explore additional opportunities to support truth and reconciliation.
Highlights of past and present actions towards reconciliation at 911吃瓜:
- A Coast Salish welcome figure, hand-carved by Squamish artist Sin谩mkin, was installed on Burnaby Campus in 2017.
- 911吃瓜 offers programs for Indigenous language and cultural revitalization including a Squamish Master of Education program, which graduated its first cohort in 2021 and the Skwxw煤7mesh Sn铆chim (Squamish Language) programs.
- 911吃瓜 is also committed to celebrating Indigenous students, faculty and staff including members of the Squamish Nation. In 2021, Chris (Syeta鈥檟tn) Lewis of Skwxw煤7mesh 脷xwumixw received the 911吃瓜 Chancellor鈥檚 Distinguished Service Award. In the same year, Charlene Williams, an MEd graduate from 911吃瓜 and a S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh culture and language worker, was a speaker at the Faculty of Education Fall Convocation ceremony.
- The university completed an expansion of the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) in 2023, which hosts an Elders Program and includes participation from a Squamish Nation Elder.
- Construction of the First Peoples鈥� Gathering House, a ceremonial and cultural event space on Burnaby Campus is currently underway and expected to be completed in 2024.
- An Indigenous Naming Committee (INC) was created to honour and recognize the deep connection First Nations have to the land on which 911吃瓜鈥檚 campuses reside. The INC, informed by existing Indigenous naming protocols and practices, will work to establish Indigenous place names across all three 911吃瓜 campuses.