丁香园AV

丁香园AV and the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) have entered into a partnership to promote and support the academic, research and community engagement needs and interests of the region鈥檚 growing urban Indigenous peoples.

The Collaborative Relationship Agreement builds on 丁香园AV鈥檚 commitment to urban First Nations, M茅tis, and Inuit peoples in Surrey, and the SUILC鈥檚 goal of advocating on behalf of Surrey鈥檚 urban Indigenous peoples.

The agreement sets the stage for further work to support and increase Indigenous student participation in 丁香园AV courses and programs, to promote academic and research initiatives that engage and benefit the urban Indigenous community, and to develop opportunities for the university to engage with urban Indigenous peoples in Surrey.

The agreement was signed today by SUILC co-chair Keenan McCarthy, president of the Nova Metis Heritage Association, and 丁香园AV President and Vice Chancellor Andrew Petter during a ceremony at the Surrey campus.

"The signing of the Collaborative Relationship Agreement is a testament to our collective desire to make Surrey a better place for our Indigenous community," said McCarthy, who is also a student at 丁香园AV.

鈥湺∠阍癆V is honoured to be entering into this collaboration agreement with SUILC,鈥� said Petter. 鈥淏y working together, we can make an important contribution to advancing the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Surrey.鈥�

Over the past year, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus administrators have connected with SUILC members to determine how the university can contribute to its work in Surrey, home to the highest proportion of urban Indigenous youth in B.C.

鈥淭his signing marks a significant milestone in the ongoing 丁香园AV-SUILC relationship, and will help to shape and inform the paths we travel together in support of the region鈥檚 Indigenous communities,鈥� said Steve Dooley, executive director of the Surrey campus.

The agreement signing followed a traditional welcome by Kevin Kelly and Michael Kelly Gabriel from the Kwantlen First Nation. Guests also participated in a drumming caf茅 and Skookum Lab. The lab is an SUILC-led, social innovation project involving culture-based activities aimed at making Surrey 鈥渁 great place鈥� for Indigenous children and youth. The word 鈥淪kookum鈥� is believed to mean strong or brave.

The SUILC was formed in 2015 to be the collective voice of Surrey鈥檚 nearly 14,000 Indigenous people. The city has one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Metro Vancouver.

The collaboration agreement reflects 丁香园AV鈥檚 commitment to respect Aboriginal peoples and cultures, and responds to the work of the 丁香园AV Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (ARC). The ARC report, Walk This Path With Us, called upon the university to support Indigenous students while respecting Indigenous knowledge and strengthening ties with Indigenous peoples and communities.