University Canada West has formed an Indigenous Action Committee.
This committee will bring together University representatives and Indigenous community members to share ideas, provide feedback and formulate recommendations for UCW.
University Canada West is committed to supporting Indigenous issues, respecting Indigenous peoples' histories and advancing Truth and Reconciliation. The Indigenous Action Committee aims to serve Indigenous communities, assist Indigenous peoples in earning degrees and ensure UCW accomplishes this while showing respect for Indigenous peoples.
“It truly is an honour to work side by side with the faculty at UCW,” says Squamish Councillor Deborah Baker, who is a committee member. “In the spirit of reconciliation, we are collaborating to enhance the Indigenous student experience in academia.”
“The Indigenous Action Committee represents an important step in fostering meaningful collaboration between University Canada West and Indigenous communities,” says Dr. Bashir Makhoul, President and Vice-Chanceller at UCW. “Together, we aim to create and support impactful initiatives that honour Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous ways of knowing while building a more inclusive, culturally sensitive educational environment. This extremely talented group will help UCW towards those goals."
The committee is chaired by Dr. Steve Whiteside, UCW’s Director of Business Development and Industry Relationships and includes both Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty members and UCW’s Indigenous Peoples Rights Advisor, as well as Councillor Deborah Baker of the Squamish Nation and Troy Abromaitis, a Nlaka’pamux Citizen.
“We look forward to bringing together ideas and action items to support Indigenous students and the Indigenous communities through shared values of respect and reciprocity,” says Councillor Baker. “The opportunity for all students and faculty to learn and grow with Indigenous and international students is one that allows for unity, collaboration and the opportunity to engage at a sacred level—very exciting times in the academic world at UCW!”
