A Message from the IRSI Team The on-going circumstances surrounding the global pandemic have created new and unexpected challenges for all of us, and we wish to acknowledge that these are difficult times for many. We hope that everyone is doing well, staying safe, and practicing physical distancing whenever possible, while still caring for and supporting one another remotely. The curtailment of many research activities and of travel has led to unique challenges for community-based collaborations. And while some projects have continued to move forward, others have needed to adjust or pause altogether for the time being as communities address more pressing needs and care for their members. With the health and well-being of community partners as the utmost priority, we want to stress the importance of respecting community needs and boundaries at this time and into the future as we navigate this uncertain time. Since early March, IRSI team members have been working remotely. And while this change in our everyday routine has required us to do things a bit differently, we are continuing to develop resources and offer support to communities and researchers in whatever way we can. If there are ways we can be of support, please reach out and let us know. You can still contact IRSI by email: irsi.info@ubc.ca or by phone: 604-827-2801 and we will get back to you as soon as we can! Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Emily LeBaron, Julie Gordon, Amanda Tolentino, Samantha Nock, Adina Williams, Helen Burt, Marliese Dawson, Alina Yalmanian, Alison Krahn, Kelly Zhang. | Yuneŝit'in-SALA Collaboration Moves Forward Virtually Despite restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the Yuneŝit'in Wildfire House project has been able to continue moving forward over the past few months, with a full-team project launch taking place virtually over Zoom on March 31st. A collaboration between Yuneŝit'in--one of the Tŝilhqot'in Nation’s six communities--and UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), the project will result in a housing prototype for Yuneŝit'in that is affordable, culturally appropriate, and mitigates health problems associated with inferior indoor air quality and exacerbated by the smoke from climate-change-induced wildfires. Facilitated by John Bass of UBC SALA, the March meeting was attended by 15 participants in total, including Yuneŝit'in Chief Russell Ross Myers and Tŝilhqot'in Nation’s Senior Advisor, Housing and Infrastructure Shawn Wiebe. Also in attendance were several other members of the SALA team and representatives from a number of organizations that will provide support and expertise for the project. | | Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Greg Johnson (UBC SALA); Anthony Persaud (Ecotrust Canada); Gordon Richards (AIBC); Pamela Perrault (Ecotrust); Adam Rysanek (SALA); John Bass (SALA); Shawn Wiebe (Tsilhqot’in National Government); Chief Russell Ross Meyers (Yunesit’in); Stefania Pizzirani (University of the Fraser Valley); Lerato Chondoma (UBC IRSI); Fionn Byrne (SALA); Zack Morris (SALA); Marliese Dawson (IRSI); Julie Gordon (IRSI). | The meeting resulted in the creation of a number of working groups and several next steps are now underway. These include: - Yuneŝit'in leadership is determining how to choose an occupant for the initial dwelling
- The team at SALA are working with Yuneŝit'in to define the technical, programmatic and budget scope of the house design
- Ecotrust, along with Stefania Pizzirani, are working with Yuneŝit'in to gather data regarding community housing needs and conditions
- IRSI is working to develop a Project Charter
| | COVID-19: Indigenous Risks, Responses & Resilience IRSI is launching a new webinar series this month covering a variety of topics related to COVID-19 and Indigenous risks and responses. The free webinars are presented in partnership with the UBC Learning Circle and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health and will take place on Zoom. For those who can't attend, videos of the events will be available on both the Learning Circle and IRSI's Youtube channels. Here is the line-up of events: For information and registration links, please visit the Events page of the IRSI website. | Principles of Engagement are Now Online Since its inception in late 2016, IRSI has hosted or co-hosted a series of engagement gatherings at UBC, Musqueam, and around the province. The main purpose for the gatherings was to engage community in the co-creation of an Indigenous Research Framework for UBC. Work to date has focused on creating two of the three pillars of the Framework: Principles of Engagement for Indigenous community-based research and Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. The third pillar, Ethics for Indigneous research, will be a focus for IRSI in 2020/21. The draft sets of principles were presented and discussed at the most recent gathering, held at Musqueam Cultural Centre in November of 2019. These principles documents are “living documents” which can be revised as needed going forward. We are pleased to share them more widely. Read more about the process to co-create an Indigenous Research Framework and download the draft Principles in this recent blogpost. | Speaker Series: Dr. Priscilla Settee INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEWS, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE WAY FORWARD FOR NORTHERN TRAPPERS Introduction by Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation FALL 2020 - Date TBD Indigenous scholar and David Suzuki Fellow Dr. Priscilla Settee has been working with Indigenous trappers in the North to explore the ways that climate change is impacting their livelihoods, food systems, and environments. This fall, look forward to an engaging dialogue with Dr. Settee, as she presents the findings of her research and highlighting the immense knowledge and unique worldviews of her Indigenous research partners. This event will be presented virtually. Date and details to be announced soon. Join our Events Mailing List to stay informed. | | Welcome, Lerato’s New Baby! It gives us immense pleasure to announce the birth of Yves, IRSI Associate Director Lerato Chondoma’s new baby boy. Yves was born on the morning of April 22nd. He joins mom and big brother Quinn, who is five. We wish Lerato and her growing family all the best! Although we will miss Lerato's leadership and energy in the IRSI office while she is on maternity leave for the upcoming year, activities will carry on with the guidance and support of new Senior Manager Amber Shilling. For any correspondance normally directed to Lerato, and if you are not already in contact with an IRSI team member, please contact Emily LeBaron, IRSI's Manager of Administration & Special Initiatives, so she can redirect your inquiry. | | Introducing IRSI's New Senior Manager, Operations We are excited to announce a new member of the IRSI team. Beginning on May 11th, Amber Shilling will join the IRSI as its new Senior Manager, Operations. In this role, she will fill in for IRSI Associate Director Lerato Chondoma, leading the team for the next year while Lerato is on maternity leave. Amber earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies from UBC in 2020. She is Anishinaabe from Mnjikaning First Nation and is a member of the Crane Clan. Her research stems from her personal experience trying to learn Anishinaabemowin while thousands of miles away from the majority of other Anishinaabemowin speakers. In her research, she explores how urban Indigenous youth utilize technology as a means to connect to identity, culture, and language. As a two-time UBC alumna, Dr. Shilling is thrilled to be joining the IRSI team to further support Indigenous research within UBC. Learn more about Amber and her research in this article, published last year in the Georgia Straight. | Goodbye to Sam This week, we are sad to say goodbye to Samantha Nock, IRSI’s Information Management Officer, whose term ends on May 7th. During her year with IRSI, Sam contributed to a database of Indigenous research projects and worked on a draft Information Management Strategy. This work will be continued in the coming months by other team members and with the guidance of Elizabeth Shaffer, Director of the Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. Sam intends to focus more on her ongoing interests in literature, the arts, and Indigenous activism. An active and talented poet, Sam was recently named one of Canada’s poets to watch in 2020. Visit Sam's personal website to learn more about her and read some of her poetry and other writing. Join us in wishing Sam all the best in her future endeavours! | | Partnership Recognition Fund Apply by June 5, 2020 Low-barrier funding for community-university engagement is available! Up to $1,500 is available for community groups working with a partner at UBC. For this intake, the Partner Recognition Fund especially welcomes proposals to sustain partnerships or adapt projects in light of COVID-19. Learn more here. | | Stay Informed, Stay Connected Are you looking for more ways to stay informed? Here are a couple of electronic newsletters suggested by the IRSI team: - The Aboriginal Law Report: This weekly newsletter is produced by First Peoples Law and includes case comments and essays on current issues in Aboriginal law and information about FPL's new publications and free workshops for Indigenous people.
- Staying Connected! UBC Community Engagement's new e-newsletter shares needs, resources and stories to help staff and faculty stay connected with local communities and each other in the time of COVID-19.
| The Land You Live On: "Native-Land Digital" with Christine McRae May 11, 2020 CTLT Indigenous Initiatives is excited to host Christine McRae, Executive Director of the web-based resource, Native-Land (www.native-land.ca) Native-Land brings about discussions of colonization, land rights, language, and Indigenous history tied to our personal histories. This session will focus on learning about ways that Native-Land Digital encourages education and engagement on topics of Indigenous land—particularly, where you are located. Register Here | Prime Ministers, Media, and Messaging: Communicating about COVID-19 May 15, 2020 How can leaders have democratic conversations during health emergencies? Is media meeting the challenge of reporting on these emergencies, for all communities? And what works better for COVID-19 prevention messaging: 'don't get it' or 'don't spread it'? Join Drs. Heidi Tworek, Candis Callison and Jillian Jordan for this online Language Science Talks on May 15th from 12pm.
Register Here | REDTalks: "Wisdom Keeper Series" with Senator Murray Sinclair & Lee Maracle May 20, 2020 Is COVID-19 our opportunity to reconnect with the ecology of Indigenous values as a way forward? During this special 90-minute online REDTalk, join Senator Murray Sinclair, author and activist Lee Maracle, and artistic director and moderator Sandra Laronde as they delve into the COVID-19 pandemic from an Indigenous perspective and context.
Register Here | | 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 © 2020 Indigenous Research Support Initiative. All rights reserved. | | | | |
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