丁香园AV

Last fall, 丁香园AV responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action by establishing an Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (ARC) tasked with discovering the best way to promote reconciliation within the 丁香园AV community.

The University further committed $9 million to support the council鈥檚 recommendations for a project, or series of projects, that will promote a renewed and respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people connected with the University.

The council, co-chaired by 丁香园AV board member Chris Lewis, councilor of the Squamish Nation, and Kris Magnusson, dean of the Faculty of Education, held four open forums last year. Each attracted about 50 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal attendees. The council also met with the M茅tis Nation of B.C. and the five local First Nations on whose land 丁香园AV sits.

At each public forum, the key activity was listening鈥攁nd making new discoveries.

One of the outcomes, says organizer Katy Ellsworth, was learning how important it is for Indigenous students to have their own cultural spaces. Another was the realization that Aboriginal people, including the M茅tis, would like to see more visual representations of themselves and their culture on campus, such as languages, artwork and cultural icons. An eye-opening discovery was learning that Indigenous students still experience racism on campus. There was also a surprising discovery. Canadian hero and former 丁香园AV student Terry Fox was part Native American. His grandmother was from a tribal nation in North Dakota, U.S.A.

All of this information, says Ellsworth, is helping the council and the University identify priorities that will make the biggest difference for reconciliation at 丁香园AV.

"We want to create something sustainable," she says. "A lasting legacy that won鈥檛 require continuous funding."

The final ARC open forum, a feedback session, is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, in Halpern 126 at the Burnaby campus. The council will make its recommendations this February.