Teaching and Learning Centre
Indigenization is a process of naturalizing Indigenous knowledge systems and making them evident to transform spaces, places, and hearts. In the context of post-secondary education, this involves bringing Indigenous knowledge and approaches together with Western knowledge systems. This benefits not only Indigenous students but all students, teachers, and community members involved or impacted by Indigenization.
UFV’s Indigenization Specialist plays an integral part of the work of Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation at UFV. The Indigenization Specialist works with faculty, staff, and students to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and UNDRIP. The Indigenization Specialist is available to work one-on-one, small and large groups to assist and support faculty and staff by building relationships while supporting Indigenization and reconciliation efforts in the world of academia from an Indigenous perspective.
Lorna assists and supports faculty and staff by building relationships while supporting indigenization and reconciliation efforts in the world of academia from an Aboriginal perspective.
Book with Lorna
A bibliography of resource materials compiled by Lorna Andrews.
This session will provide space for conversations around Indigenization.
See upcoming sessionsDuring this workshop we will go through a journey to discover challenges and best practices in decolonizing the classroom and, our education practice. We will explore strategies for creating a culturally safe learning environment and indigenizing through reconciling Indigenous worldviews, ways of knowing and being while we Indigenize our teaching practice and curriculum. We will practice reciprocity, respect, responsibility, and relevance throughout our journey together.
This workshop runs as needed. Use the form below to let us know you're interested, and you'll receive an email when the workshop is scheduled.
Workshop request formThis workshop provides you with hands-on experience and resources that will bring together Indigenous and Western worldviews based on your subject area. We will explore experiential activities to weave cultural safety/humility, Indigenous Ways of knowing and being, Indigenous worldviews, into your course(s)/practice.
This workshop runs as needed. Use the form below to let us know you're interested, and you'll receive an email when the workshop is scheduled.
Workshop request formLearn about Stó:lō’s relationship with S’ólh Téméxw. We will connect with the land and create a personal and culturally appropriate territory acknowledgment.
See upcoming sessionsThis workshop will provide an overview of the history, cultural protocols, and Indigenous worldviews of Circles. Learn about using Circle Works as a pedagogical tool in both the face-to-face and online classrooms. Strategies to facilitate a culturally appropriate Circle will be discussed and modelled.
Abbotsford sessions
Discussing how to make UFV a more culturally safe enviroment for everyone
Ey swáyel
The Indigenization Committee of the FECHD worked with colleagues from the College of Arts, the FPS, and the Teaching and Learning Office to create this video and we are excited to share it with faculty, staff, and students at UFV. We were hearing a number of concerning stories from Indigenous faculty and students regarding microaggressions they were experiencing in classrooms, meetings, and in the hallways at UFV. These micoagressions are contributing to a lack of cultural safety on our campuses. We wanted to create a video to encourage conversation, share resources, and provide an entry point into considering how to make UFV a more culturally safe environment for everyone.
This video looks specifically at territorial acknowledgements and introductions with guidance from UFV Elders. It includes examples and discussions from interdisciplinary perspectives. It is not a ‘how-to guide,’ nor does it represent the official expectations of UFV. Instead, it provides some guidance around important things to consider when starting to Indigenize and decolonize our work and spaces at UFV.
As you watch the video, we encourage you to pause and consider what is being shared. How can this inform what you do in your own classrooms? How do we go about creating space for different perspectives? What microaggressions have you contributed to? How can we keep our ongoing work around Indigenization and decolonization authentic and from the heart, as opposed to a checklist of things to do?
Finally, we encourage you to share your thoughts and reflections with colleagues as we move towards making this an ongoing conversation on our campuses. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the Chair of the Indigenization Committee at Sheryl.macmath@ufv.ca.
A reflection on the impact of residential schools
IDR Interconnected Venn Diagram