News & highlights

UFV’s Amanda McCormick avid supporter of Purple Lights Nights

Dr. Amanda McCormick admits it’s tough hearing the stories of people who’ve experienced domestic violence. It’s part of her job leading projects on intimate partner violence in UFV’s Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, and running the Reducing Domestic Violence Community of Practice in the Peace and Reconciliation Centre, and it exacts an emotional toll. But the knowledge gained from those stories leads to positive change, and that’s why she attacks every day with enthusiasm. 

“When you hear the small victories, when someone tells you they left an abusive relationship and they were able to get help, when you hear people talk about the community agencies or the police officer who helped them, those are the moments,” McCormick says. “When you finally see a person living a healthier and safer lifestyle, you can feel good about helping them get to that stage in their life.”

Albert (Sonny) McHalsie (Naxaxalhts’i) granted honourary degree

UFV will present honorary degrees to four leaders who have had a significant impact on society and their communities at its Convocation ceremonies in June.

Naxaxalhts’i is not an academic in the traditional Western sense, but by sharing his knowledge with researchers, scholars, and students over the past four decades he has ensured that a wealth of knowledge about the Stó:lō people and their culture and traditions is preserved, shared, and interpreted for current and future generations. He has a lengthy history of association with UFV, and also cooperates with other institutions through his role as an instructor and mentor for an ethnohistory field school.

Student Research Day Award

A HUGE congrats to two PARC student research assistants - Kate Simpson and Tyece Broad!! Tyece and Kate presented their Homalco First Nation research project at Student Research Day 2023 winning $200 in the Dean, College of Arts, Humanities category.

Reconciliation program built on unique collaboration with Stó:lō

A new UFV program focused on reconciliation is for non-Indigenous Canadians with a strong desire to become authentic allies.

Keith Carlson, director of the Peace and Reconciliation Centre at University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), said the program, led by Stó:lō people, was delayed by the pandemic, but is going ahead now with the first session on Feb. 28, 2023.

The Abbotsford News (8 February 2023)

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship & Reconciliation Building

The University of the Fraser Valley is collaborating with a group of Stó:lō agencies to offer an educational program that will help participants enhance their capacity for reconciliation building.

Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building will be offered by the UFV Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC), in partnership with 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.

The Stolen Vision of an Alternative to Settler Colonialism

In this talk, Keith Carlson presents an alternative vision to settler colonialism and creates a new space for dialogue for true reconciliation with Indigenous communities. Dr. Carlson is a Professor of History at the University of the Fraser Valley where he holds a Tier One Canada Research Chair in Indigenous and Community-Engaged History. He considers himself first and foremost an ethnohistorian. His scholarship is designed and conducted in partnership with communities and aspires to answer questions that are of relevance to those communities. He is interested in Indigenous history, Indigenous historical consciousness, and the history of settler colonialism — especially in western Canada and north western USA.

TEDx Talks (8 Jun 2022)

BCHF presents Advocacy Award

The BC Historical Federation presents its inaugural Advocacy Award to Dr. Albert “Sonny” McHalsie (Naxaxalhts’i) & Dr. Keith Thor Carlson who are synonymous with Truth and Reconciliation in the Fraser Valley.

BC Historical Federation (7 Jun 2022)

2022 BC Heritage Award - Indigenous & Diverse Cultures

PARC Collaboratorium project received the Indigenous and Diverse Cultures Outstanding Award. The Collaboratorium brings together opportunities for students to grow critical research skills as well as experience applying them. The results have been transformative for many organizations aligned with the Centre and the Project, because a deeper understanding of historic processes are resulting; shifting ideas and practical action towards reconciliation, awareness, and redress.

Heritage BC (18 May 2022)

Podcast: Indigenous History, Catholicism & Canada

Bigger Than Me Podcast, Aaron Pete, sits down with Dr. Keith Carlson to learn about inidigenous history, colonization, and reconciliation.

Bigger Than Me Podcast (4 Apr 2022)

Club spotlight: Students for indigenization

New UFV student club hopes to spark conversation and indigenize the campus. Guest lecturer and PARC Commitment Leader, Dr. Lolehawk Buker, speaks on decolonization and reconciliation. 

The Cascade (10 Nov 2021)

A brief and brutal history of Canadian Colonialism

Despite the painful history, there's always been Indigenous resistance. Is settler society finally waking up? 

By Dr. Keith Carlson - The Tyee (17 Jun 2021)