International student awarded B.C. Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for leadership in inclusion and reconciliation
Eylul Kara’s journey highlights the power of community-led education and cross-cultural connection. When Eylul Kara graduated with a bachelor’s degree with honours in political science and international relations last month, she took her final step on a UBC path marked by community engagement, unlearning exclusionary narratives and reimagining the way institutions approach reconciliation. Kara’s efforts […]
Xwi7xwa Library hires first archivist
When Jesse Carson joined Xwi7xwa Library earlier this year as its first full-time archivist, he was already familiar with some of the challenges—and the stacks of boxes—that awaited him. Founded in 1993, Xwi7xwa Library was intended as a repository for both published and archival materials related to Indigenous communities external to UBC, as well as individuals and […]
How Language Revitalization Boosts Indigenous Health
New UBC Arts-led research shows that reviving Indigenous languages may do more than preserve culture—it may also improve public health. In British Columbia, First Nations youth who speak their ancestral language are less likely to die by suicide. In Australia’s Northern Territory, community-led language initiatives are linked to better mental health outcomes. Across English-speaking settler-colonial […]
FNHL open letter concerning public denial statements
To the University of British Columbia community, A collective of approximately 30 Indigenous faculty and staff from UBC Vancouver recently gathered to discuss public statements that question or deny Indigenous rights, title, and the historical record of Indian Residential School abuses and deaths. We stand together as Indigenous peoples to express deep concern about these […]
Forestry launches new Indigenous land stewardship degree
New program is “more than a degree – it is the future of land stewardship.” – Dr. Garry Merkel A new program co-developed by Indigenous leaders and the Faculty of Forestry will provide Indigenous youth with a unique opportunity to learn Indigenous science and land stewardship approaches. Part of a growing movement, this first-of-its-kind degree […]