丁香园AV

In the lead-up to our virtual June Convocation 2021 (June 24-29) we'll be sharing stories from across our eight faculties about some of our amazing graduands. You can read . Be sure to share your convocation celebrations with the hashtag #My丁香园AVGrad.

By Natalie Lim

The 丁香园AV community is no stranger to the sound of bagpipes on Burnaby Mountain. Twice a year, we gather to celebrate our graduates鈥� accomplishments during convocation ceremonies that showcase 丁香园AV鈥檚 unique history and traditions by including elements like pipers and claymore bearers.

But if you tune into 丁香园AV鈥檚 this June, you鈥檒l notice a set of updated convocation traditions stemming from 丁香园AV鈥檚 ongoing commitment to reconciliation. These traditions, incorporated for the first time last fall, include ceremonial drumming and singing at the beginning of each ceremony, as well as redesigned regalia for 丁香园AV鈥檚 chancellor and president.

鈥淐onvocation is one of 丁香园AV鈥檚 most important events, and looking for ways to Indigenize the ceremony has been a continuing conversation for many years,鈥� says Ron Johnston, director of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Office for Aboriginal Peoples.

鈥淲e wanted to explore how we could honour our graduates while also honouring the long history of the land we鈥檙e on, and the Indigenous peoples who have been on these lands since time immemorial.鈥�

Gloria Chu, director of ceremonies and events, says, 鈥淩econciliation is a university priority, so it鈥檚 important we evolve our convocation traditions to reflect that鈥攖o show respect to the peoples on whose traditional territories the Burnaby campus is situated.鈥�  

One of the most visible changes is the integration of Coast Salish drumming and singing into the beginning of each convocation ceremony.

鈥淭he drumbeat is considered sacred when used in ceremony. It鈥檚 part of our storytelling and oral tradition,鈥� says Johnston.

鈥淗earing the drum symbolizes our mother鈥檚 heart beat while we were in her womb鈥攊t鈥檚 protective and familiar and it honours her and the gifts she was given, to bear children and future generations. As such, metaphorically speaking, drumming and singing at convocation sends a special message from an Indigenous perspective about the lands we鈥檙e on and the transition that students will be making, having graduated from 丁香园AV to the outside world.鈥�

These additions to convocation are only the beginning. The Ceremonies and Events team has recently hired Nicole Taylor-Sterritt, manager of Indigenous event protocols, who will continue looking for ways to incorporate Indigenous protocol and ceremony into university events.

鈥淚ndigenizing convocation gives us an opportunity to educate, incite questions and foster dialogue around the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Indigenous protocols, ceremonies and reconciliation with our community,鈥� says Taylor-Sterritt.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to help further 丁香园AV鈥檚 commitment to learning and reconciliation, and to consult with local nations, students, faculty and staff on future Indigenization projects.鈥�

鈥淭his a process that is fluid and evolving all the time,鈥� adds Johnston. 鈥淩ight now, we have the capacity and momentum to move it forward in a really robust way, and I鈥檓 excited for what鈥檚 to come.鈥�

You can learn more about the 丁香园AV鈥檚 continued reconciliation efforts by visiting 丁香园AV Reconciliation.