Pictured above: The new PDPP students, IED faculty, and staff at the PDPP orientation. 

Building Connections: Orientation Day for new PDPP students

The Department of Indigenous Education hosted the new Post-Degree Professional Program (PDPP) students for orientation on September 3, 2025. This was a wonderful day that started with an introduction to Circle and some local protocols facilitated by Frank Conibear, an experienced educator and member of the Lyackson First Nation. During this morning session each member of the cohort had an opportunity to introduce themselves and explore their goals for themselves and expectations from this program. This became an opportunity for sharing and bonding, meeting a goal of the orientation day.

Following the morning session, we continued to build connection among members of the cohort and the Indigenous Education Department. During lunch we were joined by staff and faculty supporting the program.

In the afternoon, Jean-Paul Restoule gave an overview of the program, and staff and faculty introduced themselves and their role in support of the post-degree teacher education program. This was followed by each student giving a brief introduction and rich discussion took place through a question-and-answer time along with informal sharing.

The orientation was a lovely meeting and provided all in attendance the chance to get to know one another and develop relationships.

Pictured above: Carmen holding baby Douglas, Lauren, Belinda, Edōsdi, Ewa, Dawn, Colleen, Jean-Paul, Mary, Onowa, Aliki, and Pam at the IED Retreat at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion in August. 

IED Chair's welcome to the 2025-26 Academic Year

Boozhoo, ÍY SȻÁĆEL, Kla-yuu-hoo-ut, Gilakas’la, Dẕenēs̱ hoti’e, Ahniin,

As the fall season comes upon us, we are immersed in activity. Orientations. Welcomes. New friends and returning faces.

I am moved to see our shared commitment to advancing Indigenous ways of knowing and being within our classrooms, communities, research and partnerships.

Thank you all for the many ways you contribute to the strength of our department and the benefit it brings to Indigenous communities, now and in the future. I look forward to the good work we will do together in the months ahead.

Miigwec, HÍSW̱ḴE, Kleco Kleco, Gilakas’la, Meduh, Miigwec!!

Jean-Paul, Chair, IED

Welcome Mary McCue, Administrative Officer, in IED

We are pleased to welcome Mary McCue as the Administrative Officer in the Department of Indigenous Education (IED).

Mary has been a visitor to the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ territories since 2017 moving here from Istanbul, Turkey. She grew up on the traditional territories of the Massachusett and Wampanoag Tribes on the east coast of the United States, spent years travelling, living and teaching English as a second language in several countries, and earned a BA in Theatre from the University of Massachusetts. Her last position at UVic was at the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement (IACE) at the First Peoples House, where she was gifted with many teachings every day.

She is so happy to have found a path to the Department of Indigenous Education and is committed to supporting the good work the department does every day.

Pictured above: Group picture of the Language Experience 21^st annual at Ponderosa Lodge, Candle Lake, SK

From the Lived Experiences in Language Revitalization with Dr. Belinda kakiyosēw Daniels

In June, I had the privilege of attending the 14th Annual Conference of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA), held June 26–28, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although the gathering took place at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, I joined virtually alongside a colleague. Our presentation, kinwahpahtamowin – Long Witnessed Observation as Assessment in the Cree Language, explored the significance of lived and sustained observation in language learning. The conference also featured a panel by Dr. Daniels and Assistant Professor Randy Morin, highlighting over two decades of nēhiyawak language experience assessment practices developed through the annual land-based immersion camp in central Saskatchewan.

The 2025 nēhiyawak Language Experience: Cree Camp was once again a huge success, bringing together more than 80 participants, six teachers, and numerous Elders. Special recognition was given to Eugene Makokis (Saddle Lake, AB), who opened and closed the gathering with prayer, smudge, and song, grounding the camp in Cree ceremony and tradition.

In August, I also presented at the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE) Biennial Conference at Galway University in Ireland. Our panel, Resisting Erosion: Language, Culture, and Identity Reclaimed through Syllabics, was a collaborative presentation with Tammy Ratt, Ph.D. candidate at First Nations University, exploring the resilience and revitalization of Indigenous languages through writing systems.

1st photo: nLE teachers, Dorothy Thunder, myself, Randy Morin, Darian ācikahte, Neil Redcrow and Bill Cook; 2nd photo: ASLE panel members Heather Phipps, Amelia Friday, Tammy Ratt, Brayden Benjoe, and Belinda Daniels.

1st photo: Belinda at the University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; 2nd photo: Lily Bay, Tammy Ratt, Belinda Daniels, and Darling Ratt at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. 

Pictured above & below: BMSC students learning on the land. 

Place-based Learning in Huu-ay-aht Territory

Since 1972, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) has provided students and researchers with unparalleled access to the ocean from its location on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in Huu-ay-aht territory. This past summer, more than one hundred students came to BMSC to participate in immersive field courses and gain hands-on research experiences in marine science.

Unique among these courses was Place-based Learning in Huu-ay-aht Territory, a field course offered in collaboration with UVic Indigenous Education and taught by Dr. Tracy Friedel. The course immersed students in the territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, demonstrating why place matters in education, with a particular focus on the relationship between land and Indigenous peoples.

Running alongside BMSC’s marine science field courses, Place-based Learning in Huu-ay-aht Territory brought together students from diverse backgrounds and created an inherently interdisciplinary learning environment. This not only enriched the experiences of participating students but also broadened the perspectives within BMSC’s educational programming.

This course was a remarkable success and marks the continuation of an exciting collaboration between BMSC and UVic Indigenous Education, renewed in 2025 after being paused by COVID-19. 

Teaching and Learning Indigenous Perspectives Electives

September 2025 - There's still time to register!! 

IED 376 - Indigenous Literature for the Classroom

An examination of works by Indigenous authors for use in K-12 calssrooms. An analysis of the roles literature plays in shaping and reflecting Indigenous histories, identities, and communities. 

Courses are offered subject to enrollment.

TLIP website