Indigenous Research Support Initiative
 

Heiltsuk Tiny Homes Under Construction

The construction of eight tiny homes is now underway in Bella Bella, the home community of the Heiltsuk Nation. The building project—part of an ongoing collaboration between the Heiltsuk, UBC’s Faculty of Forestry, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, FPInnovations, and Builders Without Borders—was initiated in 2017, when the Heiltsuk Tribal Council approached UBC for research support to address an urgent housing crisis. 

IRSI facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding for the project partners and, following a planning and design stage, home designs were selected by the community.

With Heiltsuk members working on site, foundations have been poured for four homes and another four are now at the framing stage. Read about the project on UBC’s newly launched strategic plan website, which showcases stories that illustrate how the plan is being brought to life across campus.

The Heiltsuk Bighouse is opening this month, with ceremonies October 13 - 17. Learn more.

Pictured above: Heiltsuk Council members ’Qátuw̓as (Jessica Brown), Harvey Humchitt and Chief Marilyn Slett and UBC’s Helen Burt and Lerato Chondoma after signing the MOU.

 


 

Orange Shirt Day at UBC

Orange Shirt Day on September 30th is held every year to commemorate the more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children that attended residential schools in Canada, and to raise awareness about the residential school system. The team at IRSI joined UBC staff, students, faculty and their families to march in the spirit of reconciliation and to honour the experience and resilience of Residential School Survivors.

 


 

Research Day: Oct 3

On Thursday October 3rd, IRSI will host a full day event for all UBC researchers engaged in Indigenous research collaborations to meet and share information about their projects, research interests and more. The event, which begins at 9 AM, will take place in Sage Bistro, Sage East at UBC's Vancouver campus. A drop-in research fair in the morning will be followed by a lunch for attendees. The afternoon will include a facilitated dialogue about Indigenous research data and an opportunity for more networking. For information or to attend the next IRSI Research Day, contact IRSI’s Research Manager Marliese Dawson.

 


 

IRSI Team Expands 

Over the summer, we welcomed a number of new faces to IRSI. With an expanded team, we are able to provide additional support, outreach and services to Indigenous communities as well as to researchers. Pictured above, top row: new Community Liaison Adina Williams; Manager, Administration & Special Initiatives Emily LeBaron; Information Management officer Sam Nock; Research Manager Marliese Dawson; Administrative Support Emma Graves. Bottom row: Communications Strategist Julie Gordon; Education & Training Officer Alison Krahn; Ramona the dog. Not shown: Associate Director Lerato Chondoma and work learn student Alina Yalmanian. Get to know us!

 


 

Debra Sparrow speaks to a packed house

The IRSI Speaker Series re-launched following a short summer break with a luncheon presentation from Musqueam weaver, artist, and knowledge keeper Debra Sparrow on September 17th. Like her woven patterns, Debra’s talk, “Weaving our History: Education through a Musqueam Lens”, was complex, creative, and delivered straight from her heart. Debra touched on a wide array of topics—from the power in traditional artforms to the weight of words; the need for a collaborative approach to education and the importance of knowing ones heritage. Listen to excerpts from the presentation here.

 


 

October 25th: Merle Alexander on Free Prior Informed Consent 

Next up in the IRSI Speaker Series, we present Indigenous lawyer and UN negotiator Merle Alexander, who will share his extensive knowledge on Free Prior Informed Consent (“FPIC”). Merle will discuss a number of FPIC-related topics, including the origins of the international customary law concept, consent between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown, and consent at various stages of a traditional knowledge study. This event is presented in collaboration with Allard Law School's Indigenous Legal Studies and will take place from 12:30 to 2 PM on Friday, October 25th at Franklin Lew Forum, Allard Hall. Register now.

Those unable to attend can livestream the event here.

 


 

New Indigenous Community Liaisons at UBC

In an effort to better serve Indigenous communities interested in engaging in research collaborations, as well as Indigenous scholars and students on its two campuses, UBC welcomes two new Indigenous Community Liaisons.

At UBCV, we are delighted to have Adina Williams (left, above) join the team at IRSI. Adina is from the Squamish Nation, and also descends from the ‘Namgis (Kwakwaka’wakw) peoples from Alert Bay, BC. She grew up in Xwemelch’stn (Capilano Reserve) in what is now more commonly known as West Vancouver. Adina completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC in First Nations and Indigenous Studies and Anthropology and has worked in a number of research roles, including at the First Nations House of Learning, Indigenous Initiatives at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT), and the Indigenous Health Research and Education Garden at the UBC Farm. Contact Adina here.

Sandra Fox (right, above) assumed her role at UBCO in mid-June and works out of the office of the VP Research & Innovation, supporting Indigenous research collaborations with the Okanagan campus. A member of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Indian Band, Sandra has lived in Sylix Okanagan territory for most of her life and has worked in and with Aboriginal communities in the BC interior for the last ten years, most recently as an Aboriginal Student Advisor at UBCO. Concurrent with her new role, Sandra is completing her master’s degree in Indigenous Studies. Contact Sandra here.

 


 

November 18th: Dr. Robert Henry

Stay tuned for the details of our final Speaker Series event of the year with Dr. Robert Henry, whose research draws on innovative photovoice methods to examine the ways in which Indigenous men and women engage in street lifestyles, where the street gang becomes a site of survivance, challenging settler colonialism. Dr. Henry's prersentation will take place off campus. Venue and time TBD.

 


 

Building a Framework for Indigenous Research 

As part of an ongoing effort to create transformational change in the way UBC and other institutions engage in Indigenous collaborations, IRSI is working with a variety of partners to develop an Indigenous Research Framework. This Framework will have three pillars, specific to Indigenous research: Principles of Engagement, Ethics, and guidelines for the collection and management of Indigenous data, information and records. To co-create this Framework, IRSI has convened a number of gatherings over the past two years in a variety of locations around the province. This work will culminate in a collaborative workshop on November 26 & 27, where we will present the findings from the various gatherings and invite the attendees to help us synthesize the results into a draft Framework. If you work in Indigenous research and are interested in participating in the upcoming gathering, please reach out to us at irsi.info@ubc.ca.


 

Indigenous Students' Collegium at the Longhouse

The Indigenous Student Collegium (ISC) is a new space inside the First Nations Longhouse of Learning where Indigenous students can informally connect with an Elder or professor and Indigenous peer leaders, have a space to make lunch, meet up with friends between classes, and participate in cultural practices like smudging and talking circles. To register and for more information, visit the Indigenous Students' Collegium page on the Aboriginal Portal.

 


Upcoming Events

Mari Boine Performs at the Chan Centre

October 5, 2019

With a voice like no other, Mari Boine works tirelessly toward the recognition and resurgence of her Indigenous Sámi language and culture. Boine draws influence from hymns, Norwegian folksong, and sounds from the natural world, the tremulous, arcing Sámi yoik chants are at the core of Boine's art. Ticket holders for this event are invited to a pre-show talk with Sheryl Lightfoot on the connections between Sámi communities and local Indigenous communities pertaining to language revival and political resilience.

Buy tickets

Dean's Lecture - Senator Murray Sinclair

October 10, 2019

Join the Faculty of Education and the Janusz Korczak Assoication of Canada for the 2019 Dean's Distinguished Lecture featuring Senator Murray Sinclair. Senator Sinclair served as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the first Aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba, serving the justice system for more than 25 years. Space for this event is limited and registration is required. 

Learn more

ILS Book Talk with Bev Sellars

October 8, 2019

The Indigenous Legal Studies Book Talk Series presents Bev Sellars, former Chief of the Xat’sull First Nation and community advisor to the BC Treaty Commission, who will discuss her memoir They Call Me Number One and her newest book on Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective, Price Paid: The Fight for First Nations Survival.

Learn more

 

Our office is always open to community members and researchers. We'd love to hear about the work you're doing with Indigenous communities this year! You can reach us at irsi.info@ubc.ca, or at 604-827-2801.

Our mailing address is:
Room 4156
2260 West Mall, Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability
UBC Vancouver Campus | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Traditional Territory
British Columbia, Canada
V6T 1Z4

Copyright © 2019 Indigenous Research Support Initiative. All rights reserved.