‘Moving Beyond Talk’: Addressing the Challenges of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Climate Change
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Many thanks for that generous introduction, Peter – I barely recognized myself! And my thanks to you all for joining me in this important and timely dialogue. I feel very honoured to be invited to the Visiting College Leaders Program here at the University of Pennsylvania – it’s always exciting to see […]
Community Update, September 29, 2021: Orange Shirt Day | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Dear members of the UBC community: I would like to start by thanking all those who have completed your online COVID-19 vaccination status declarations. By doing your part and completing the declaration, you are helping to protect the health and wellbeing of the UBC community. As of yesterday, more than 73,000 members of the UBC […]
Statement on the Missing Children of the Kamloops Indian Residential School
We were heartbroken to learn of the confirmation of the burial site of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School last week. We can only imagine the grief and pain that the families and communities of the missing children are feeling. UBC stands with First Nations seeking the truth about […]
Statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, I would like to celebrate the diverse and unique cultures and contributions of Indigenous people in Canada, British Columbia and at UBC. I want to take this moment to honour and celebrate, in particular, the Musqueam and Syilx peoples on whose traditional and unceded territories the main UBC campuses have […]
Repatriating Cultural Property: A Priority for UBC
Last week I had the honour to speak at a meeting of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, held at the First Nations Longhouse and the Museum of Anthropology at UBC Vancouver. The meeting was organized by Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair of Global Indigenous Rights and Politics, and […]
Presidential Priorities for 2019-20
As the first month of the 2019-20 academic year comes to a close, I’d like to discuss my strategic priorities for the year. These priorities include research excellence & innovation, sustainability, leveraging our physical presence, the Indigenous Strategic Plan, and the Integrated Renewal Program. My first priority is driving research excellence and innovation. UBC is […]
UBC calls for a TMT moratorium
UBC is deeply committed to engagement and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and supports the standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. To advance our commitment, UBC strives to ensure that research projects involving or affecting Indigenous peoples are built on mutually beneficial, reciprocal and accountable relationships. UBC is also immensely […]
Raising the Musqueam Flag: Acknowledging the past, recognizing our future responsibilities
Students, faculty, staff and visitors at UBC’s Vancouver campus may have noticed, and wondered, about the three flag poles standing bare at the foot of Student Union Boulevard. Wonder no more. On Monday, February 25, three flags will be raised at the site – the UBC flag, the provincial flag and the flag of […]
Strategic Plan funding focuses on Indigenous, cross-campus initiatives
I am pleased to announce that 20 new pilot projects and change initiatives will be funded as part of the university’s commitment to implementing the strategic plan, UBC’s Next Century. Each proposal was reviewed by the responsible vice-president and associated advisory councils from each core area of the strategic plan (People and Places, Research Excellence, […]
Holiday Reflections: Honouring our commitments
The holiday season is a good time to reflect back on the year that has gone and to look forward to the year ahead. Looking back, the past year has seen a number of significant accomplishments, most notably the endorsement of the new UBC strategic plan, Shaping UBC’s Next Century. Other milestones included the opening […]
Listen Up, it’s the Blue & Goldcast!
I’m excited to announce the birth of The Blue and Goldcast. As you can probably guess from its name, The Blue and Goldcast is a podcast. I’ll be cohosting it every month along with Jennifer Gardy. Jennifer is an assistant professor at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health, a Canada Research Chair in Public […]
Episode 1: Indigenous Ways of Knowing
In the first episode of the Blue and Goldcast, we focus on indigenous research methodologies: how can we include traditional ways of knowing into the university? Blue and Goldcast · Blue And Goldcast Episode 1: Indigenous Ways of Knowing Download the transcript: Blue and Goldcast Episode 1 transcript
Statement of Apology
April 9, 2018 Today the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC was opened to the public in a ceremony that included a statement of apology, which I delivered, to Indian residential school survivors and, more generally, to Indigenous people, for the university’s involvement in the system that supported the operation of the […]
The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre: Fulfilling a Promise
On Monday, April 9th, I invite you to join me in witnessing the fulfillment of a promise made by my predecessor, UBC President Stephen Toope, in 2013 – the opening of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC). At the opening, I will also make a Statement of Apology for UBC’s involvement in […]
Looking ahead to 2017-18
Dear members of the UBC community: Welcome back for the start of the 2017/18 academic year. I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the summer. Today, UBC is welcoming thousands of new and returning students to our campuses and learning sites. As we embrace the energy and excitement that comes with this, I […]
We cannot change the past, but we can honestly recognize it
This past weekend, I was honoured and humbled to participate in the raising of Reconciliation Pole at UBC’s Vancouver campus. It was gratifying to see so many people turn out for this important occasion and to hear from residential school survivors such as Elder Barney Williams and Pauline Jones (below left), who spoke with courage and candour of the […]
Remarks for Reconciliation Pole Installation: We cannot change the past but we can honestly embrace it
I begin by acknowledging all the Elders, Chiefs, and Matriarchs, distinguished and honoured guests, and by welcoming all of you, our many friends and family. We are so honoured to have you with us. Thank you for your work, your leadership and support, and for joining us today. I am thrilled to be with you, […]
Keynote Address to the WestVAC and WestVPR Conference
Keynote Address to the WestVAC and WestVPR Conference 2017 March 2, 2017, Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria BC Thank you Very pleased to be here and to meet research and academic leaders from Western Canada Your sessions today and tomorrow are ones that interest me keenly Unfortunately, due to previous commitment I have to leave […]