丁香园AV

Tsleil-Waututh singing and drumming rang through 丁香园AV鈥檚 Saywell Hall Atrium on November 21 to celebrate the Honourable Steven L. Point (Xw臅 l墨 qw臅l t臅l) and his work to improve Indigenous literacy in British Columbia.

In accordance with age-old Coast Salish protocol and practice, distinguished speakers at the witnessing ceremony honoured Point in Halkomelem and English for championing literacy while keeping his peoples鈥� old ways alive. Oral histories and traditions are affirmed at such ceremonies where witnesses recognize and acknowledge the important 鈥渨ork鈥� that is taking place.

After Point was 鈥渟tood up鈥� and blanketed, he told of how a conversation with Bob Blacker, his aide-de-camp during his term as lieutenant governor, sparked the that delivers books computers and high speed internet to remote First Nations communities around the province.

鈥淲hen we began to bring books out something magic happened because other people started coming with us,鈥� said Point. 鈥淐orporations, businesses, Rotarians, they began walking with us. They鈥檙e building libraries now, not just bookshelves.鈥�

Point, who is from the Skowkale First Nation, became the province鈥檚 first Indigenous lieutenant governor in 2007 after practicing law and serving as a provincial court judge as well as holding positions of influence in First Nations, provincial and federal governments.

The ceremony was connected with a FASSFirst course taught by criminology professor Brenda Morrison called Reading, 鈥楻iting & Rising Up: Weaving our Narratives on Rights, Justice and Reconciliation. The course is grounded in Coast Salish ceremony and explores themes of rights, justice and reconciliation with guest speakers who tell how they use writing to rise up and enable communities. FASSFirst courses are designed to help new students make a successful transition to university and connect with their professors and peers during their first term.

Indigenous people face many barriers to education due to the ongoing impacts of colonization. Point urged the students from Morrison鈥檚 class to get their degrees so they could return to their communities and help their people.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e embarking upon a great time in our history of First Nations as we begin to resolve long-outstanding land claims and begin the long journey towards self-government,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd when we do that we鈥檙e going to need more hands, more educated young people like yourselves.鈥�

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