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Peace and Reconciliation Centre

UFV/Peace and Reconciliation Centre/Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building 

The UFV Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC), in partnership with UFV Continuing Education, the Stó:lō Nation, the Stó:lō Tribal Council, the Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, and the Stó:lō Grand Chief’s Council, has launched a collaborative program initiative: Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building. This program seeks to help build people’s capacity for reconciliation-building by teaching the importance of authentic allyship and providing skills for building relationships between colonial settlers and Indigenous communities here in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

The program

2024 REGISTRATION
Tier one - closed 
Tier two - Delayed until 2025

The Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building program offers the opportunity for participants to develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be an ally and how to embrace the goal of being in a constant state of learning and unlearning, relationship building, and transformative action.

Topics that will be covered in the program include, but are not limited to, Lands and Resources, Settler Colonialism, Governance, Assimilation and Residential Schools, and Culture and Spirituality.

TIER ONE (ARB T1)

The 2024 TIER ONE program will run from January 18 to  December 19. It will consist of a mixture of presentations (3rd Thursday of each month - no August sessions), workshops, and hands-on land-based learning opportunities, where participants will be guided in developing the knowledge and empathy necessary for becoming effective and respectful allies to local Indigenous communities.

Among the elective workshops will be drum making, cedar bark weaving, Placename tours, introductions to the Halq'eméylem language, and other land-based learning experiences. To note, optional sessions may have additional cost. 

Program cost: $260

PLEASE NOTE: Sessions and workshops listed below are for registered participants only.

January - Orientation

Session: Program Orientation

Date & time: January 18th MOVED TO FEBRUARY 1st | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave, Chilliwack

Session: Archaeology and heritage resources with Dave Schaepe

Date & time: February 15th | 7:00 – 9:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

 

Workshop: Cedar weaving with Gracie Kelly (required)

Date & time: February 24th | 1:00 – 3:00pm OR 3:30 – 5:30pm 

Location: CEP Atrium - H1100, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

 

Session: Recognizing and transcending Settler colonialism and white privilege with Dr. Keith Carlson

Date & time: March 14th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm (note date change due to Spring Break)

Location: UFV Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

Workshop: Introduction to Halq'eméylem language with Dianna Kay (required)

Date & time: March 16th | 10:30 - 11:30am; 1:00 - 2:00pm; OR 2:30 - 3:30pm

Location: A2215, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

Session: Traditional Stó:lō governance: practice and change with Denise Douglas

Date & time: April 18th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

 

Workshop: Plant walk with Carol Peters (required)

Date & time: April 20th | 10:30 - 11:30am; 1:00 - 2:00pm; OR 2:30 - 3:30pm

Location: Indigenous garden, UFV Abbotsford campus, 33844 King Rd

Session: Everything you wanted to know about Stó:lō culture and history but were afraid to ask with Sonny McHalsie

Date & time: May 16th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Coqualeetza Longhouse, 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack

 

Workshop: Level 2 Halq'eméylem language with Dianna Kay (required)

Date & time: May 11th | 10:30 - 11:30am; 1:00 - 2:00pm; OR 2:30 - 3:30pm

Location: 1st Floor Boardroom, Building 10, Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack

 

June - Sessions & workshops

Session: Stó:lō culture and protocols with Herb Joe

Date & time: June 20th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Coqualeetza Longhouse, 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack

Workshop: Medicine Bag with Gracie Kelly (required)

Date & time: June 22nd | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: CEP Atrium - H1100, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

Session: Residential School survivors panel with Kat Pennier

Date & time: July 18th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Matsqui First Nation, Abbotsford

Workshop: Walking tour of St. Mary's Residential school with Sonny McHalsie (required)

Dates & times: July 20th OR July 27th | 10:00am - 11:30am OR 12:30pm - 2:00pm 

Location: 34110 Lougheed Hwy., Mission

No sessions for August

Session: Reconciling Water, Salmon, and Cultural Crisis with Murray Ned

Date & time: September 19th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Kilgard Longhouse, 2800 Sumas Mountain Road, Abbotsford



Workshop: Placenames tour with Sonny McHalsie (required)

Date & time: September 14th OR 28th | 9:00am to 4:00pm

Location: Stó:lō Nation, 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack

Workshop: Drum Making with Darren Charlie (optional - added fee)

Date: October 5th | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: CEP Atrium, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

Pre-registration and payment required by September 19th

 

Session: Art and communicating culture, healing and the water with Francis Horne

Date & time: October 17th | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack Campus, 45190 Caen Ave

 

Workshop: On the land songs and drumming with Eddie Gardner (required)

Date: October 19th | 10:00am – 11:00am OR 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Location: Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, 5200 Sumas Prairie Rd. Chilliwack 

Session: TBC with Joanne Hugh, founding board member of Thélá:ylexw Awtxw

Date & time: November 21st | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Gathering Place, UFV Chilliwack, 45190 Caen Ave, Chilliwack

Workshop: Stó:lō Remembrance day ceremony

Date & time: November 11th | 9:00am - 1:00pm

Location: Coqualeetza Longhouse, 7201 Vedder Rd., Chilliwack

Session: End-of-Program Celebration

Date & time: December 19 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: CEP Atrium

TIER TWO (ARB T2)

The Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building Tier 2 Program is still under construction.  It is important to us that this program contribute to Stó:lō resurgence and Stó:lō-settler reconciliation and so we are taking care with building this program so that it is in alignment with the visions of our partners.  We are grateful for your interest in this program.  We are hoping to offer this program in 2025.  Contact the Peace and Reconciliation Centre to be notified when registration is open. 

Program cost: TBC