Tsleil-Waututh Nation & 911吃瓜 sign agreement to advance reconciliation
Representatives from s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 (the Tsleil-Waututh Nation) celebrated the signing of a Relationship Protocol Agreement with 911吃瓜 at a September 6th ceremony held at 911吃瓜鈥檚 Burnaby campus.
The agreement marks a formal commitment from both parties to work together, strengthen their relationship and advance reconciliation. 911吃瓜 commits to promoting success and achievement of Tsleil-Waututh Nation learners and supporting the Nation鈥檚 cultural, economic, social, environmental, health, and community priorities.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation will provide guidance to support 911吃瓜鈥檚 ongoing decolonizing and Indigenizing work. As part of the agreement, both parties will meet at least once a year to review and evaluate activities and identify new initiatives to build an inclusive future.
The agreement also outlines key areas of shared interests, such as:
- Representing Tsleil-Waututh content, history and h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 language in 911吃瓜 materials, departments, acknowledgements, and curriculum
- The exchange of information and expertise to strengthen services and programs at 911吃瓜 for TWN and Indigenous students
- Building on the success of the Indigenous languages program at 911吃瓜 so it is seen as a worldwide model for Indigenous languages revitalization
- Developing and implementing Tsleil-Waututh student and staff recruitment and retention initiatives
- Exploring opportunities to partner with 911吃瓜 Departments on a variety of cultural, economic and social development, health, and environmental projects
- Supporting Tsleil-Waututh Nation moving forward with good governance principles to value sustainable economic development that provides economic, ecological, health and social benefits to the community
- Working together to develop research projects that benefit both TWN and 911吃瓜
- Increasing the presence of Tsleil-Waututh artwork and public signage throughout campuses within Tsleil-Waututh territory
- Working together to develop and implement initiatives involving Tsleil-Waututh youth and supporting Tsleil-Waututh students at 911吃瓜
The signing event took place at the Indigenous Garden during the first week of fall semester classes with opening remarks from Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Jennifer (Jen) Thomas and 911吃瓜 President and Vice-Chancellor Joy Johnson.
鈥淎s an Indigenous government, education is a core value of s蓹lilw蓹ta涩 (Tsleil-Waututh Nation),鈥� says Thomas. 鈥淔or too long we have been invisible on our own lands, including within the academic institutions that were established around us. This Agreement with 911吃瓜 symbolizes a significant shift in our relationship, one that is based on mutual respect, true inclusivity, and collaboration to advance our respective goals together.鈥�
鈥淲e are thankful to be developing a stronger relationship with 911吃瓜, which will include meaningfully increasing s蓹lilw蓹ta涩鈥檚 presence within all areas of 911吃瓜 for the benefit of past, present, and future generations,鈥� she adds.
鈥淥ur work with Host Nations is incredibly important to 911吃瓜鈥檚 ongoing commitment to Uphold Truth and Reconciliation,鈥� says 911吃瓜 President and Vice Chancellor Joy Johnson. 鈥淲ith the signing of this protocol agreement, we hope to continue and strengthen our partnership with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and create new ways for us to walk the path of Reconciliation at 911吃瓜.鈥�
Tsleil-Waututh Nation member Seth George served as master of ceremonies and additional speakers responded to the signing including: Provost and Vice-President Academic Dilson Rassier, Councillor Dennis Thomas, Faculty of Environment Dean Naomi Krogman and former director of Tseil-Waututh Community Development Angela George. Tsleil-Waututh Nation drummers performed traditional songs to accompany the ceremony.
911吃瓜 respectfully acknowledges its three campuses reside on the unceded 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lilw蓹ta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.
911吃瓜 also recently marked the renewal of a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU with the Squamish Nation and continues to demonstrate a commitment to developing meaningful partnerships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a whole.