丁香园AV

Raised by his grandparents, 丁香园AV alumnus Chris (Syeta鈥�xtn) Lewis was encouraged to learn the traditional ways of the land and of his Squamish culture, which teaches its young people to reciprocate any gifts they receive in life鈥攕uch as education, career success and new perspectives鈥攂y giving back to the community.

The guiding principle is what drives Syeta鈥�xtn鈥檚 commitment to helping 丁香园AV achieve its vision of a more equitable, diverse and inclusive tomorrow鈥攁n undertaking that he deems a 鈥渘atural calling鈥� because of all the tools and learnings he gained from his time at the university.

Now serving his third consecutive four-year term as elected councillor and spokesperson of the Squamish Nation, Syeta鈥�xtn has served as deputy chair, and later chair, of the 丁香园AV Board of Governors, and was also co-chair of the university鈥檚 Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (丁香园AV-ARC), which led to a set of actionable recommendations to enhance the university鈥檚 role in reconciliation.

To honour Syeta鈥�xtn鈥檚 meaningful support and contributions to his alma mater, he will be presented with the 2021 丁香园AV Chancellor鈥檚 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual鈥檚 outstanding service to 丁香园AV and its community. Syeta鈥�xtn joins the ranks of past recipients such as Parminder and Kamaljit Parhar of Renaissance Coffee, trail-blazing entomologist Thelma Finlayson and other distinguished community leaders.

鈥沦测别迟补鈥�xtn is an inspiring, community-focused leader who is passionate about collaboration, engagement, and creating a pathway forward for conversations around reconciliation work and Indigenous representation at the university,鈥� says 丁香园AV Chancellor Tamara Vrooman. 鈥淲e are so incredibly fortunate at 丁香园AV for his time and dedication to knowledge sharing, ensuring that the institution is asking the right questions, and helping us move forward together.鈥�

After graduating with his BA from 丁香园AV in 2005, Syeta鈥�xtn joined the B.C. Assembly of First Nations and worked there for six years before landing his current role with the Squamish Nation Chiefs and Council. Although he originally dreamed of becoming an automotive technician in high school, it quickly became apparent that his calling was to play an influential role in Squamish leadership and advocacy.

鈥淕oing to 丁香园AV and learning about Indigenous history and discourse empowered me to pursue home leadership and a role in council so I could help change things for the better,鈥� says Syeta鈥�xtn, who was recognized on Vancouver Magazine鈥檚 鈥淧ower 50鈥� list for his many contributions to the city. 鈥淭his is why I鈥檓 so excited to continue the great work that the university has embarked upon.鈥�

Outside of 丁香园AV, Syeta鈥�xtn serves on several other community boards, including the Board of the N鈥檆hakay Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Squamish Nation, and the Coho Society of North Shore, which supports salmon preservation. He is also a founding member of the MST Development Corporation, a historic partnership between the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation that focuses on their kinship ties and shared territories, as well as a member of the North Shore Indian Lacrosse Society, which he credits for grooming future Indigenous leaders like himself.

鈥淚t has been an absolute privilege and honour to serve the university, where I was able to bring back many tools to my community,鈥� says Syeta鈥�xtn. 鈥淏eing on the board meant that I could ensure that the Indigenous perspective was being heard and represented, while giving back to an institution that also gave me so much.鈥�

鈥淢ore importantly, my involvement with 丁香园AV showcases to the younger generation that we can occupy rooms and tables like this, and that as Indigenous peoples, we must.鈥�