As we approach the mid point of February, we wanted to share about what is coming up next week. February 14th is more than just Valentines day, it is the day of the Women‘s Memorial March in Vancouver and other cities. We invite you to continue reading to learn more.  

February 14th Women's Memorial March 

Content Note: The following includes mention of gender-based violence experienced by BIPOC women and gender diverse people. Details are not included. The following includes mentions of violence against people of marginalized genders, including violence against Indigenous women, girls, trans, and two-spirit peoples and Black, racialized, and migrant women, girls, trans, and gender diverse people. Details of violence and harm are not included.  

Since 1992, the downtown eastside community has come together every February 14th to express compassion, community and caring for all women and gender diverse people who have experienced harm. The memorial march continues to honour the lives lost in the downtown eastside. Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with no action to address the systemic oppression of gendered violence, poverty, racism and colonialism that enable these tragedies.  

To Indigenous Kin 
You should not have to live these stories. And in the face of such violence, it is okay to show up, or not show up, exactly as you are. Your existence, your joy, your pain, your triumphs, your failures - the entirety of you deserves to be supported and nurtured. Your strengths and resilience are admired. It is also okay to ask for help. In that spirit, we have included resources available to you:

• UBC‘s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office: available to UBC students, staff and faculty, SVPRO is an intersectional, decolonial, inclusive space where all genders and sexualities are welcome, and all services are confidential.  
  • 604.822.1588 | svpro.vancouver@ubc.ca  
• Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre: provides no cost individual counselling for Indigenous survivors of sexualized violence, families of MMIWG2S+, survivors of residential school and/or intergenerational trauma.  
  • 24/7 Crisis, Information and Support Line Available: 604.255.6344 | https://www.salalsvsc.ca/   
• Hope for Wellness Help Line: offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada, 24/7, including counselling and crisis intervention.  
  • Toll Free - 1.855.242.3310 | Online Chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca  
• Government of Canada - Long Term After Care for MMIWG: survivors, family members and those affected by the issue of MMIWG are still able to access counselling, emotional support, cultural support services and assistance with costs.  
  • Within BC - 1.877.477.0775  

For Allies: 
The Women‘s Memorial March acknowledges and holds space for all people from marginalized genders who are impacted by violence. This day is inclusive of all communities impacted and those who wish to stand in solidarity with them. As allies, showing up for your loved ones, friends, and colleagues, we offer these words of guidance: 

• Honour boundaries: do not ask anyone if they are personally impacted.  
• Think before you post: do not post images or text that is centered on gratuitous trauma of marginalized people.  
• Educate yourself: do not ask Indigenous people to educate you on MMIWG2S+.  
• Be intentional with your words: do not make empty statements of support - show up by marching, donating, volunteering.  
• Respect privacy and capacity: do not make those impacted process your feelings with you. 

Resources for Further Learning 

• Red Women Rising: Indigenous Women Survivors in the Downtown East Side   
• MMIWG2S+ Calls for Justice from the Final Report  
• UBC Library: Guide to Resources on MMIWG2S+  
• Jaime Black‘s REDress Project  
• Love, Land & Spirit: Podcast on Community, Connection and Culture 

For UBCV Students, Staff and Faculty Who Would Like to Gather with Others 
The First Nations House of Learning and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office are collaborating to provide resources, supports and transportation on Wednesday, February 14th to those who want to attend and/or honor the day's events for the Women's Memorial March. The march is an inclusive event for people, of all genders, to gather and hold space with one another. Everyone is welcome to attend the march and to bring guests on the bus as support. The bus has a capacity of 50 people and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. For those who don‘t attend the march, the Longhouse will be hosting an art and community drop in for the Indigenous community. 

• On Campus (UBCV) 
  • 9am: Coffee, snacks and medicine bundle making in the Great Hall 
  • 10am: Smudge and drumming in the Sacred Circle (behind the Longhouse). Students, staff and faculty are welcome to bring drums and share a song. 
  • 11am: Transportation to the march, leaving from the UBC First Nations Longhouse. Transportation back to campus will also be provided. 
  • 12 - 2pm: Art and Community drop in at the Longhouse (for those not attending the march) 
• Downtown
  • 11:30am: Drop off downtown on Carrall St. Coffee, tea, snacks, washrooms and supports will be available at the UBC Learning Exchange for attendees throughout the day. 
  • 3:00pm: Bus will be leaving downtown and driving back to campus. 

Note: Staff from UBC Counselling Services will be available at the Learning Exchange for students throughout the event. 

Register for transportation HERE.  

If you have any questions you can contact Olivia Reynolds, Indigenous Educator at the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, olivia.reynolds@ubc.ca 

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

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.

This document provides guidelines for how to incorporate and honour xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) protocol at UBC-hosted events and ceremonies. 

This series is meant to highlight Indigenous leaders, scholars, artists and Knowledge Keepers, and spark key community conversations as we all work together to increase intercultural capacity and build good relations through awareness and knowledge. Upcoming dates: 

• Learning Resurgence and Reconciliation from the Earth (Dr. Joshua Whitehead)
  • March 20, 2024
  • 12:00pm - 1:30pm *Mountain Time*
• In the Spirit of Dr. Betty Bastien: Conceptualizing Ontological Responsibilities in Higher Education (Dr. Gabrielle Weasel Head)
  • April 10, 2024
  • 12:00pm - 1:30pm *Mountain Time*

Today, fewer than 47 native speakers of ʔayʔaǰuθəm remain, all of whom are over the age of 60. To help preserve their traditional language, four sister nations—Klahoose, Tla‘amin, Homalco, and K‘ómoks—are working alongside researchers from UBC and the University of Alberta to develop an ʔayʔaǰuθəm e-dictionary, set to be featured on FirstVoices.