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What's New in Indigenous Initiatives
 
Title: Indigenous Initiatives Newsletter January 2024. Image of snow covered trees
We hope your new term is off to a good start and look forward to seeing you at some of our programming in the coming months!

With the recent cold weather and snow, we hope that you are staying warm and safe in your travels. At times like these, it‘s important to remember our community members who don‘t have a warm home to return to. If you have any extra warm clothing or blankets in storage, we encourage you to consider donating those items. For those in Vancouver, the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre is a great option, and the Daily Hive newspaper has put together this full list of donation locations. 

 

 

 

What's New in Indigenous Initiatives

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. Land Acknowledgements at UBC
  3. Applying Anti-Racist Pedagogy in the Classroom (AA-RPC) - A new program! 
  4. Kinship Corner
  5. Across Our Desks

 

 

 
Land Acknowledgements at UBC
We encourage you to check out the Land Acknowledgements at UBC canvas course which is part of the Indigenous Learning Pathways program. This is a great time to enroll in the asynchronous course because we are hosting an optional synchronous follow-up session on Zoom on February 8th. Everyone who completes the Canvas course is invited to join.  

The Canvas course was originally launched in Spring 2021 and a refreshed version went live in July 2023. Land Acknowledgements at UBC is a resource for faculty and staff to enhance their learning and their practice of offering meaningful and accountable land acknowledgments in their role at UBC. The refreshed course includes new content, videos and activities, as well as a facilitation guide to continue the discussion and learning journey with colleagues. 

 

 

 
Title: Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning. Image of many hands holding a ball of yarn

Applying Anti-Racist Pedagogy in the Classroom (AA-RPC)

AA-RPC is a cohort-based program where educators will explore anti-racist approaches and practices while learning from others and building relationships in a collaborative learning environment. In this program we will focus on the classroom environment, with a focus on building and maintaining caring classroom climates. In this program, you will explore ways to embed anti-racist principles into your teaching practice and come away equipped to support IBPOC students.

The program runs over a six-week period, beginning March 7 until April 11. It consists of four in-person workshops and approximately 10-12 hours of asynchronous work. To apply, participants are required to commit to the entirety of the program.  

The four mandatory in-person workshops are held on: 
  • Thursday, March 7: 9am – 12pm  
  • Thursday, March 14: 9am – 12pm
  • Thursday, April 4: 9am – 12pm  
  • Thursday, April 11: 9am – 12pm  

 

 

 
Upcoming Events
Title: Indigenous Foundations: Getting Started. Image of snow covered trees and bridge.
Incorporating Indigenous topics and voices into university classrooms is essential. But where do you begin? Educational institutions have historically excluded Indigenous knowledges and privileged others. Not only is this an important pedagogical shift, but it is also a needed shift to create safer classrooms for Indigenous students. Understanding the foundations is essential for growing confidence and capacity to hold the complexities of meaningful conversations. 

Date: January 24, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: In-person [Irving K Barber Learning Centre, Room 2.22 Room 302 (1961 E Mall)]
Title: Holding Indigenous Topics with Care. Image of people walking in the snow.
In this workshop, participants will learn about classroom climate through the What I Learned in Class Today project and what it means to go beyond “just integrating” content to what it means to hold discussions with care in the classroom and how this can make a supportive and safer learning experience for all students.  

This workshop requires participants to engage with asynchronous materials prior to the workshop, including watching the Renewed Student Perspectives Film: Educational Experiences and Institutional Responses and reading two articles (approximately 30 minutes of pre-work). Within the synchronous portion of the workshop, we will be screening the What I Learned In Class Today Renewed Faculty Perspectives Video, followed by a discussion. 

Date: February 22, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Zoom
Title: Approaches to Engaging with Indigenous Communities in Science Field-Based Learning Experiences: Lessons and Impact. Image of person standing on a beach
In this session, a few instructors affiliated with the Earth Science Experiential and Indigenous Learning (EaSEIL) project will share their experiences of engaging with Indigenous communities and resources, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives, knowledges, and ways of knowing in field-based learning course activities. As a group, we will discuss different models of engagement these instructors designed and implemented, lessons learned and students‘ perspectives about these efforts. 

Date: March 12, 2024
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: Earth Sciences Building - ESB 5108 (5th floor)
Image of three hands hold coffee cups, title of CTLT Indigenous Initiatives Virtual Coffee Drop-in
Do you have questions about how to thoughtfully integrate Indigenous content and representation into your course work? Curious about how to offer meaningful land acknowledgements in online meetings or events at UBC? Indigenous Initiatives‘ Virtual Coffee Drop-ins are great place to explore these topics, connect with others on the same learning path, or just get to know our team.

 

 

 
Title: Kinship Corner. Image of bear family.
Image of Madelaine McCallum

Healing Harm through Community with Madelaine McCallum

Sharing her story from a place of vulnerability with her audience, Madelaine takes you through an experience of self-reflection and challenges you, in a good way, to shift your perspective on your own story.

Note that while this event is open to all in the UBC community, priority will be given to Indigenous people. Attendees will receive an invitation by email prior to the event to confirm registration. 

Date: January 25, 2024
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall, UBC Longhouse
1985 West Mall, Vancouver
This section of our newsletter is for the Indigenous community at UBC, and beyond, to share heart filling spaces and news. For non-Indigenous allies, we encourage you to always double check if events in this section are specifically for Indigenous community before RSVP-ing.  

 

 

 
Title: Across Our Desks. Image of desk.
Roots and Reflections: "Be Well" by Zoey 'Pricelys' Roy

Roots and Reflections: January

Join the Centre for Teaching and Learning every month for an enriching experience as they delve into an array of Indigenous resources—captivating podcasts, thought-provoking articles, soul-stirring songs, enlightening book excerpts, poignant poems, compelling TV shows, and more. Join on January 22nd to talk about the Poem “Be Well” By Zoey ’Pricelys‘ Roy. 

Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Zoom

Reading with Leanne Betasamosake Simpson and Special Guests

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson reads from her work with special guests Canisia Lubrin and Junie Désil. Hosted by Billy-Ray Belcourt.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer and artist, who has been widely recognized as one of the most compelling Indigenous voices of her generation. Her work breaks open the intersections between politics,  story and song—bringing audiences into a rich and layered world of sound, light, and sovereign creativity.

Date: January 22, 2024
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Zoom
Image: Ideal Logo, Blue and Green Design

Opening Ceremony for IDEAL: Indigenous Design and Engagement in Applied Science and Land and Food Systems

IDEAL is a certificate program designed to provide faculty and staff the opportunity to challenge their assumptions and acceptance of colonialism through land-based and experiential learning opportunities.

IDEAL participants will start with an opening ceremony on January 26th, from 12:30 onwards at the xʷcı̓cəsəm Garden.

MOA Unmasked: Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Join MOA for a rare opportunity to visit the Museum during their temporary closure. Tours are 90 minutes long. The same tour will be offered twice a month. Tour guides and topics will vary each month. Upcoming dates:
  • January 18 - 7:00pm
  • January 19 - 4:30pm
  • February 8 - 7:00pm
  • February 9 - 4:30pm
​See you in February! 
Indigenous Initiatives at Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology
The University of British Columbia, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Traditional Territory
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre 217 – 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, CA V6T1Z1
Visit our website at http://indigenousinitiatives.ctlt.ubc.ca/