The following message was originally issued by Prof. Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver.
Dr. Eduardo Jovel has been appointed as the Interim Director of the First Nations House of Learning, effective December 1, 2021. He joins FNHL at this time while Dr. Margaret Moss, Associate Professor, UBC School of Nursing, and Director, First Nations House of Learning, temporarily steps into the role of interim Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion.
“I am humbled and excited to serve as the Interim Director of the First Nations House of Learning,” Dr. Jovel said. “I believe it is an opportunity to reciprocate the kindness, support, and guidance that I’ve received from the Indigenous community over almost three decades.
“At this particular time, I see the ISP as providing UBC with a strong pathway for institutional change grounded on responsive, reciprocal, and respectful relations with Indigenous people, particularly with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.
“Incorporating Indigenous knowledge, protocols, and culture is fundamental to enhancing the students’ experience at UBC, and necessary to improve Indigenous health and wellness, and acknowledge Indigenous people’s rights and self-determination. And so, I look forward to contributing to the collective efforts and commitments of the University to build a successful future for Indigenous people.”
“Dr. Jovel will be a wonderful fit as Interim Director, as he is a frequent presence at the Longhouse and is familiar with the staff and students there, including FNHL programming,” Dr. Margaret Moss said. “I have no doubt that FNHL will prosper under his leadership.”
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jovel to his new role.
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Eduardo Jovel, Ph.D., whose traditional name is Itz Cohuatl, is an Indigenous scholar of Pipil and Mayan ancestry. He completed his Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Jovel is an Associate Professor and Director of the Indigenous Research Partnerships, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC. His academic training includes Ethnobotany, Mycology, and Natural Products Chemistry. His research intersects with Indigenous Health and Wellness, Indigenous land-based Education, Gender, Research Ethics, and Indigenous food sovereignty.
He is former Director of the UBC Institute for Aboriginal Health and the founder and Director of xwc̓ic̓əsəm Garden at UBC Farm, focusing on restoring community leadership on self-determined land-based education and research, and, respectfully, mobilization of Indigenous knowledge.
Dr. Jovel has worked with Indigenous people in Peru, Ecuador, the United States, New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada.
Over the last 18 years, Dr. Jovel has been a leader in building Indigenous research capacity and networks in BC and Canada, including the BC Aboriginal Capacity and Developmental Research Environments (ACADRE), the Network Environment for Aboriginal Health Research BC and Yukon Territory (NEAHRBCYT), and the Network Environments for Indigenous Health BC (NEARBC).