Professor Clifford Atleo Jr. appointed Senior Advisor and AVP, Indigenous Affairs
I am pleased to announce that the Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Professor Clifford Atleo Jr. as Senior Advisor and Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Affairs, for a five-year term starting May 1, 2026. As Senior Advisor and AVP, Professor Atleo will play a key convening role for Indigenous initiatives at UBC Vancouver, helping […]
UBC study identifies Indigenous-led hunting as most effective way to manage deer overpopulation
As ecosystems in coastal British Columbia continue to suffer from the effects of overabundant black-tailed deer, a study by UBC Forestry, in collaboration with Coast Salish Nations, presents effective management solutions for the Southern Gulf Islands. The research indicates that Indigenous-led hunting is the most successful and cost-effective method for mitigating deer overpopulation while addressing […]
Dr. Candace Galla appointed UNESCO Co-Chair to advance Indigenous and non-dominant language rights
UNESCO has appointed UBC professor Dr. Candace Galla as Co-Chair for Rights Education among Indigenous and Non-Dominant Language Communities — a global role focused on advancing language rights, education, and community-led research. An Associate Professor in UBC’s Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies (Faculty of Arts) and Department of Language and Literacy Education (Faculty of Education), […]
UBC’s seed2STEM honoured with City of Vancouver’s Leadership in Reconciliation Award
The University of British Columbia’s seed2STEM summer research program for Indigenous high school students has been awarded the City of Vancouver’s Leadership in Reconciliation Award for 2025. The seed2STEM program transforms reconciliation principles into action by creating culturally safe pathways for Indigenous high school students to participate in science-technology-engineering-math (STEM) research. Founded in 2018 at the ICORD spinal cord […]
CEIH awarded 2025 President’s Staff Award for Collaborative Excellence
The Integrated Curriculum Team—comprised of staff from the Office of the Vice-President, Health (UBC Health) and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health (CEIH) was recently awarded the 2025 President’s Staff Award for Collaborative Excellence. The award exemplifies collaborative excellence in delivering the Integrated Curriculum, an interprofessional program that is a required component of 14 […]
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 […]