Indigenization

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that we work, learn, and teach on the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Stó:lō People, the people of the river.

Faculty of Health Sciences Indigenization Committee

The committee’s purpose is to support and provide guidance on decolonization and Indigenization within the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

The committee has a responsibility to foster a culture that is respectful and inclusive of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and supportive of all Indigenous and non-Indigenous student success.  

What our committee is doing:

• Providing a community space for access to important and relevant information regarding Indigenous matters.

Important Provincial and National Dates (click for more detailed information):

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30
• Indigenous Veterans Day (National) – November 8
• National Indigenous Languages Day – March 31
• National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples (MMIWG2SLGBTTQQIA+) – May 5
• June (starting in 2009) National Indigenous History month
• National Indigenous People’s Day – June 21
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – August 9

We also encourage you to review the following resources:

• The UFV Library's Weaving Knowledge Systems Resource Materials -  A collection of material about Indigenization prepared by the UFV Library.
• The First Peoples Principles of Learning - A site created to help educators in BC understand how they might incorporate the First Peoples Principles of Learning into their classrooms.
• UNDRIP - A framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world.
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for Indigenous Adolescents - An exploration of the above declaration written for a young audience.
• TRC Response Strategies for Nursing Education - A document offering direction to schools of nursing specifically.
• Pulling Together: Foundations Guide - Part of a professional learning series developed for staff across post-secondary institutions in BC. 
• Pulling Together: A Guide for Teachers and Instructors - A guide for decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation specific to teachers and instructors.
• Pulling Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers - A guide for decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation specific to curriculum developers.

Relevant UFV Programs and Services:

Indigenous Student Centre

Indigenous Studies

Current Committee Membership:

Erin Sawatzky (Co-chair) - Associate Professor, Certified Dental Assistant Program

Susan Stoneson  (Co-chair) - Assistant Professor, PN and LPNA-BSN Program Head

Lorna Andrews - Teaching and Learning Specialist, Indigenization

Leanne Joe - Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, Teaching and Learning Centre

Debbie Ward - Clinic Coordinator/Associate Professor, Certified Dental Assistant Program

Brian Justin - Associate Professor, Kinesiology Program

Amanda Wurz - Assistant Professor, Kinesiology Program

Jacquie Watson - Assistant Professor, BSN Program

Heather Campbell - Assistant Professor, BSN Program

Michelle Beatty - Dental Hygienist/COHI Provider/First Nations Health Authority/UFV Alumna