Student

Verna Kirkness: Thomas Berger was ‘key’ to making UBC more accessible to Indigenous peoples

Verna Kirkness: Thomas Berger was ‘key’ to making UBC more accessible to Indigenous peoples

In remembrance of Thomas Berger, who passed away on April 28, 2021. Tom was both my friend and mentor. While much of his life centered around law, he had a wider interest and for me his interest in the education of Indigenous people was a great bonus to my work at UBC. I arrived at […]

Learning Lingít helped UBC student to discover her history

Learning Lingít helped UBC student to discover her history

When the Tlingit community adopted UBC student Éedaa Heather Burge, she was brought in from the cold. Studying the language in Juneau, Alaska, that could be taken literally, but the Lingít phrase for adoption ‘A tóot ajeewatán’ means to take someone’s hand and bring them inside. Her adoptive mother and teacher, Elder G̱uneiwtí Marsha Hotch, […]

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Spring 2020

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Spring 2020

On Saturday, June 27, 2020, the First Nations House of Learning hosted a virtual graduation celebration to honour and recognize the educational achievements of participating Indigenous graduates. This year’s virtual offering replaced the usual in-person event held at the First Nations Longhouse, which wasn’t held due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Similar to […]

Online book celebrating UBC Indigenous honorary degree recipients released

Online book celebrating UBC Indigenous honorary degree recipients released

In honour of this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st and in anticipation of the upcoming virtual Indigenous graduation celebration on June 27th, the First Nations House of Learning is pleased to release The Honour of One is the Honour of All, a virtual sourcebook produced in tribute to the Indigenous individuals who […]

UBC welcomes Bernard C. Perley as new Director of the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies

UBC welcomes Bernard C. Perley as new Director of the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies

Dr. Bernard C. Perley is an Indigenous anthropologist and leading scholar in the field of language revitalization. The University of British Columbia welcomes Dr. Bernard C. Perley as the new Director of the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies (CIS) in the Faculty of Arts. An Indigenous anthropologist and leading scholar in the field of language […]

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Fall 2019

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Fall 2019

On Saturday, November 30, the First Nations House of Learning hosted a celebration event at the First Nations Longhouse in honour of Indigenous students graduating as part of the Fall 2019 class. The event saw Indigenous students walking through the ceremonial door into Sty-Wet-Tan Great Hall, followed by an honouring ceremony. The act of walking […]

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Spring 2019

Indigenous Graduation Celebration Spring 2019

The First Nation House of Learning’s held its annual Indigenous graduation celebration at the First Nations Longhouse on Saturday, May 25th, where 39 Indigenous students and two UBC honorary degree recipients, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Leona Sparrow, were honoured by families, friends and supporters for their achievements. Overall, 130 Indigenous students graduated this spring, […]

Musqueam flag raised at UBC

Musqueam flag raised at UBC

The flag of the Musqueam Indian Band was permanently raised on the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus today, thus formally signifying the university’s recognition of the Musqueam.

AMS apologizes to Indigenous peoples

AMS apologizes to Indigenous peoples

Last month, UBC Alma Mater Society President Marium Hamid delivered an apology to Indigenous peoples during a meeting with Indigenous students at the First Nations Longhouse. AMS expressed on behalf of 56,000 current undergraduate and graduate students of the University of British Columbia its “profound regret” for not making “serious efforts to advance reconciliation or […]

Indigenous high school students get inspired at UBC

Indigenous high school students get inspired at UBC

This past May, the Verna J. Kirkness Science and Engineering Education Program and UBC hosted 31 Indigenous high school students, where they immersed themselves into campus life, including enjoying quality time in science and engineering labs doing hands-on research. In addition to being mentored by professors and graduate-level students, the grade 11 and 12 students […]