Staff & Faculty Aboriginal Cultural Training (SFACT)
The Staff and Faculty Aboriginal Cultural Training (SFACT) Program was designed to meet the broad project goal of making the University a more welcoming environment for Indigenous students. The need for this program arose out of the recognition that University campuses can be alienating for Indigenous students, who may face interpersonal and systemic racism and discrimination during their education. Additionally, Indigenous people have a unique relationship to the education system, due to a legacy of residential schools and other tools of colonization. To raise awareness about these issues, SFACT included the development and piloting of online and face-to-face workshop modules for UVic faculty and staff, which focused on exploring the needs of Indigenous students and sharing knowledge about a range of cultural and historical Indigenous issues.
Additionally, in 2009, the SFACT Needs Assessment Report was released, outlining innovative ideas for designing and delivering the online and workshop curriculum. The report includes feedback from 267 participants from across the University community, including Indigenous students, UVic staff and faculty, and professionals in Aboriginal education.
Download a copy of the SFACT Needs Assessment Report here.
In 2009, an SFACT Advisory Committee was formed with representation from the broader University, which is in the process of determining if and how the SFACT curriculum will be offered at UVic in the coming years.