Indigenous programming

We recognize that what is now known as the University of Victoria is on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen and Coast Salish peoples. We also recognize that it is fundamental to the development of community-based research and to the work of creating vibrant and practical research partnerships with communities locally, nationally and globally that First Nations/ indigenous worldviews, history and research projects be foundational.

Acknowledgments

Our Steering Committee includes Dr. Lorna Williams, Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Knowledge and Learning, Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, the director of the UVic Office of Indigenous Affairs (INAF), and Nella Nelson, the Coordinator of Aboriginal Education for School District 61 and a long-time community leader. These leaders have been invaluable to guiding the local, national and global direction and programs that UVic creates and is involved in. UVic can continue to set a national and global example. We also thank Drs. Alfre dTaikake and Jeff Corntassel from the UVic Indigenous Governance Program, Drs. Jeff Reading and Chris Lalonde and Velten Pilger from the The Centre for Aboriginal Health Research (CAHR) at UVic and Onowa McIvor, the Director of Aboriginal Education at UVic. In the broader community we also recognize the special contribution made by elders Butch Dick and Skip Dick from the Songhees Nation, Herman Thomas from the Halalt Nation and Dr. Marie Cooper from the Tsartlip Nation who have guided many events and consultations we have conducted. Dr. Evelyn Voyageur, the elder in – residence at North Island College and vice president of the Aboriginal Nursing Association of Canada is helping guide the development of a Vancouver Island (VICRA) inter-campus CBR nursing initiative to improve and direct research and community –campus partnerships.

Highlights of 2007-2010 programming

2007-2008

• Created the six-part symposium series CANEUEL (means “Working Together” in SENĆOŦEN, the Saanich people’s language) on CBR with aboriginal communities
• Supported the development of the Aboriginal Service Plan for Vancouver Island and British Columbia
• Supported the Halalt First Nation to develop carbon sequestration and song/story recovery projects
• Worked with the UVic Office of Indigenous Affairs (INAF) and the Indigenous Association of Adult and Higher Learning on a province-wide CBR study of post-secondary transition for aboriginal students
• Featured Aboriginal Knowledge with key note speaker Dr. Marlene Brant Castellano (founder of first Native Studies Program in Canada) at CUexpo 2008 the largest campus-community conference in Canadian history

2008-2009

• Co-sponsored with Office of Indigenous Affairs, completed Phase One of the Aboriginal Transitions Research Project supported by the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA). Engaged six CBR indigenous adult learning organizations in BC
• Held second annual CANEUEL CBR with Aboriginal Communities Learning Series
• Featured Canadian Indigenous CBR historic role at CBRC Symposium – May 2009 with Drs. Lorna Williams, Marlene Brant-Castellano and Marie Baptiste
• Supported Network Environments for Aboriginal Research BC (NEARBC) and Intertribal Health Authority’s Research Ethics Project
• Supported Aboriginal health consultations with UVic’s Faculty of Human and Social Development and Office of Aboriginal Affairs in Fort Rupert and at UVic.

2009-2010

Caneuel Series

Aboriginal CBR with Aboriginal Communities 2007-2010

The original purpose of this educational series which began in 2007 was to support and increase “CANEUEL” – through respect, research and community partnerships - between the University of Victoria and First Nations communities. After consultations, the agreement was reached to call it CANEUEL(pronounced cheynewel) the SENĆOŦEN word for 'working together'. SENĆOŦEN is the language of the local Saanich peoples. Thank you to elder John Elliott from the Tsartlip Nation for his support and advice. The Series was launched thanks to a development grant from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research / Network Environments for Aboriginal Research BC (NEARBC). Twelve different presentations have been offered since 2007 and based on the feedback in 2008 (see Report) the decision was made to continue to offer this each year.

Past Caneuel Topics and Presenters – 2007-2010

Cultural and Ecological Restoration in Snitchel The Saanich First Nations, the SeaChange Marine Conservation Society, Dr. Gloria Snively - Faculty of Education The Coast Salish Language Revitalization Project The Cowichan and Saanich First Nations (Hul’q’umi’num and SENCOTEN languages), Dr. Ewa Czaykowska-Higgins - Department of Linguistics, Dr. Lorna Williams - Faculty of Education Location Aboriginal Health Research Stories from Vancouver Island Dr. Chris Lalonde - Department of Psychology, UVic graduate students and community members connected to the Vancouver Island Node of Network Environments for Aboriginal Research BC (NEAR BC) Aboriginal Student Success at UVic Stories and Results of the LE, NONET (LE, NONET (Success after enduring many hardships) Project at UVic. Presentation #1 : Co-Principal Investigators Roger John and Dr. Chris Lalonde (Psychology) and UVic aboriginal students Presentation #2 : Co-Principal Investigators Sarah Hunt and Chris Lalonde (UVic Psychology), Dawn Smith and Ruth-Anne Donellsen ‘Hii shuck iis tsa walk’ (Everything is One) Indigenous Rights and Environmental Law: Struggles and Successes from BC UVic Environmental Law Legal Director-Calvin Sandborn and Earl Stevenson, Anishinaabe/Cree - UVic law student and Karla Point, Hesquiaht First Nation and UVic law graduate NONG SILA (Many Grandparents, Many Grandchildren) : Creating a Community Model for Urban Aboriginal Adoptions Dr. Sandrina DeFinney, from Child and Youth Care, Shelly Johnson and Community Advisory Council member Suzanne Bate from the Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services. A New Ethnohistory with UVic and the Sto:lo Nation: Stories and insights from a decade long partnership Sonny McHalsie and Dave Schaepe, Sto:lo Research and Resource Management Centre, Dr. Keith Carlson (University of Saskatchewan), Dr. John Lutz (UVic-History), Emmy Campbell and Devon Drury Wadzulis ~ Aboriginal Outdoor Experiential Education: a community-university partnership to engage aboriginal youth Dr. Nancy Turner (Environmental Studies), Tom Child (UVic student), Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi – Director of UVic Indigenous Affairs Office (INAF), Sarah Cormode (INAF) and Sally Hunter (Victoria Native Friendship Centre) Knitting Knowledge and Power: The Story of the Coast Salish Knitters Film Screening and panel discussion with UVic Professor and filmmaker Christine Welsh, Chief Lydia Hwitsum - Cowichan Tribes, May Sam - Tsartlip Elder and Sylvia Olsen – UVic Ph.D Student Supporting Indigenous Student Success: Highlights from the BC-wide Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association CBR Project Budd Hall – UVic, Office of Community-Based Research, Director Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi – UVic, Office of Indigenous Affairs, Director Kendra Underwood – Saanich Adult Education Centre, Director of Adult Educator Tye Swallow – Saanich Adult Education Centre, Instructor Indigenous-centered Research and Pathways to Community Regeneration Jeff Corntassel – Indigenous Governance, Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor IGOV students: Adam Gaudry, Carla Lewis, Molly Wickham, Mick Scow The Importance of Human Dignity When Working in Indigenous Communities Cathy Richardson – UVic, School of Social Work, Indigenous Specializations and Audrey Chartrand – Masters in SW Graduate/ Family worker