間眅埶AV

間眅埶AV President Andrew Petter and SUILC co-chair Keenan McCarthy, president of the Nova Metis Heritage Association, exchange gifts during the signing of a Collaborative Relationship Agreement at the 間眅埶AV Surrey campus.

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間眅埶AV, Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee partner to support region's urban Indigenous peoples

January 10, 2019
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間眅埶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 regions growing urban Indigenous peoples.

The Collaborative Relationship Agreement builds on 間眅埶AVs commitment to urban First Nations, M矇tis, and Inuit peoples in Surrey, and the SUILCs goal of advocating on behalf of Surreys urban Indigenous peoples.

The agreement sets the stage for further work to support and increase Indigenous student participation in 間眅埶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 間眅埶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 間眅埶AV.

間眅埶AV is honoured to be entering into this collaboration agreement with SUILC, said Petter. By working together, we can make an important contribution to advancing the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Surrey.

Over the past year, 間眅埶AVs 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.

This signing marks a significant milestone in the ongoing 間眅埶AV-SUILC relationship, and will help to shape and inform the paths we travel together in support of the regions Indigenous communities, 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矇 and Skookum Lab. The lab is an SUILC-led, social innovation project involving culture-based activities aimed at making Surrey a great place for Indigenous children and youth. The word Skookum is believed to mean strong or brave.

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

The collaboration agreement reflects 間眅埶AVs commitment to respect Aboriginal peoples and cultures, and responds to the work of the 間眅埶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.