Indigenization
ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē and Okanagan Indian Band Raise Flag and Celebrate Naming Ceremony at Vernon Campus
September 26, 2024
Visitors to ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Vernon campus will notice the OKIB flag flying proudly in the sky.In a historic and meaningful ceremony at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Vernon campus, members of the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), students, staff, and local community members came together to raise the OKIB flag. The event also marked a special occasionāthe official name-giving ceremony for the newly constructed student housing building on the Vernon campus, which will serve as a welcoming space for learners from across the region.After thoughtful consulta...
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Honouring Tradition: Rhea Dupuis Reflects on ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē's 15th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow
September 20, 2024
A celebration of culture, resilience, and community that continues to inspire future generations.Since joining ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē as Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation two years ago, Rhea Dupuis has been a dedicated advocate for strengthening ties between the College and Indigenous communities. A member of the Penticton Indian Band, Dupuis plays a key role in promoting access to education for Indigenous learners while supporting the Collegeās commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.One of the events that holds particular meani...
Read more...Indigenous Innovators: Quest for Knowledge, Culture, and Creativity
August 12, 2024
In July, the ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē Indigenous Services team had the pleasure of hosting a two-week camp designed for Indigenous kids in grades 4-6, called Indigenous Innovators: Quest for Knowledge, Culture, and Creativity. The Indigenous Services team is grateful to the Camp ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē team for helping make this camp a great success.Campers had the opportunity to make Bannock with Salmon Arm Indigenous Services Coordinator, Diyame Derrick Caterer, which made an excellent morning snack. They were also taught the art of making...
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Rachelās Adventure: A MĆ©tis Student's Journey Through Study Abroad
June 21, 2024
The following story was submitted by ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās International Education team:An ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē student has returned from the trip of a lifetime.Rachel, a MĆ©tis student at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē (ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē), recently participated in a Discovery Camp in Surabaya, Indonesia. This program, which included 11 ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē students (three of whom were Indigenous), focused on sustainable development goals and local government initiatives.Rachel's journey was made possible because ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē is part of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), which helps studentsā stud...
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National Indigenous Peoples Day 2024
June 21, 2024
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and MĆ©tis. It's a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada. National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on June 21 and coincides with the summer solstice, a day that holds cultural significance for many Indigenous groups.We reflect on th...
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Mural at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē honours residential school survivors
November 24, 2023
A large mural that honours residential school survivors has been unveiled at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Kelowna campus, designed and painted by Syilx artist Sheldon Pierre Louis. Titled suŹkncutās prayers, the acrylic latex mural measures 10 feet tall by 21 feet wide and raises awareness about the legacy and impacts of the residential school system. The mural was officially unveiled Nov. 24 with a special ceremony at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Kelowna campus. āThe mural signifies ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās lasting commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation at our campu...
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ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē raises Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation flags at Penticton campus
September 28, 2023
A ceremony held today at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Penticton campus welcomed the permanent raising of the Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation flags. Community members and representatives of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB), Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē (ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē) gathered today in ceremony to mark the occasion. The flags formally signify the Collegeās recognition of the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation, on whose lands the College resides in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. āAs we gat...
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College convocation centers Indigenous culture, protocol
June 21, 2023
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē reflects on its commitments to reconciliation and the rich history, diverse cultures and significant contributions of Indigenous peoples. āWhile we still have work to do, this has been a meaningful year for ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās journey toward reconciliation,ā says Rhea Dupuis, Associate Director of Indigenization at the College. āFor the first time, communities came together at each of our four college campuses to celebrate graduates, where ceremonies centered around Indigenous protocol.ā ...
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Student Indigenous language learning on display in the ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē library
April 27, 2023
Kelowna Campus Library feature display, foyer, April 14 ā May 12 NĢsyilxcĢnĢ FNIL120 & FNIL110 are ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē courses that provide opportunities for students to learn words and phrases, and hold conversations in NĢsyilxcĢnĢ, the Indigenous language of the Syilx Okanagan people. This term, student creative projects included cupcakes baked using a recipe in NĢsyilxÄnĢ and an original painting depicting the students in the class. The student works and their stories about the course and what it has meant to them will be o...
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TD gives $85,000 to help kids and newcomers access ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Indigenous Garden
October 18, 2022
Hawthorn, wolf willow, and sage are among the traditional plants growing in the garden on the hillside at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Vernon campus, which this year was visited by more than 250 local school children, thanks to generous support from TD Bank Group. TDās gift, made earlier in 2022, is funding tours of the K'nmaÄŗka SenqĆ¢Äŗten - Kalamalka Indigenous garden for children and newcomers to Canada. The garden is located on ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Vernon campus. ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē has already received a portion of the funding; the remainder will be...
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ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē welcomes new Associate Director, Indigenization
October 17, 2022
ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē is pleased to welcome Rhea Dupuis, xĢŹ·nĆ”mxĢŹ·nÉm, as the Collegeās first Associate Director, Indigenization. Rhea, from the Syilx Okanagan Nation and a member of the Penticton Indian Band, brings more than 20 years experience to ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē, working in both public and Indigenous education systems, as well as with mental health and wellness organizations. Rheaās traditional name is xĢŹ·nĆ”mxĢŹ·nÉm, a Syilx name which means Hummingbird. āI am both thrilled and grateful that Rhea has chosen to share her wisdom, skills and experience with...
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Convocation stoles featuring Syilx, Secwepemc pictographs honour graduates
June 20, 2022
As Canadians prepare to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē is recognizing Indigenous graduates in a new and special way. This year for the first time, Indigenous students who cross the stage at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē convocation and commencement ceremonies are being gifted with a specially designed convocation stole, embroidered with Syilx and Secwepemc pictographs. āOn National Indigenous Peoples Day and every day, it is critically important that we remember and appreciate the privilege it is to live, work and play on the beau...
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ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē āSticks Upā for Indigenous Student Awards
April 13, 2022
ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē Indigenous Services and the ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē Foundation have teamed up for the annual āSticks Upā campaign. They are excited to launch this fundraiser for the NHLās 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē āSticks Upā for Indigenous Students Award. Yvonne Oppenheimer and Erica Seymour were the inaugural recipients of the ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē āSticks Upā for Indigenous Students Award. The Awards are available to students with Indigenous ancestry who are enrolled in full-time study in any degree, diploma, or certificate progr...
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ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Penticton campus hosts Chief Clarence Louie for a discussion about his book, Rez Rules
March 14, 2022
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie will discuss his book, Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada's and America's Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People, during a talk at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ēās Penticton campus next week. Louie was elected chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band in 1984 and has led his community for four decades since. He is known for focusing on economic and business independence in order to strengthen his community, which struggled with poverty. āChief Clarence Louie is one of the most recognized First Nations leaders in Cana...
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Soaring Indigenous sculpture unveiled in ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē's new Health Sciences Centre
November 3, 2021
A nine metre (30 foot), hand-cut metal sculpture by local Indigenous artist Clint George is now installed and proudly on display in ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē's new Health Sciences Centre. The sculpture represents the Four Food Chiefs, and depicts the Syilx Okanagan oral history (or captikŹ·É¬) on how food was given. James Coble, Director of Student Services and Indigenization Task Force Chair at ĀŅĀ×ŗ£½Ē, says the sculpture demonstrates the Collegeās commitment to creating welcoming spaces for Indigenous students. āThe opportunity to create...
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kinSHIFT: a powerfulāand localāway to learn about Truth and Reconciliation
September 27, 2021
Kelly Terbasket of IndigenEYEZ has created a new sister organization for alliesākinSHIFT. Launched this spring, kinSHIFT is a tailored set of workshops for non-Indigenous allies who want to take the next step. Designed in response to increasing requests from people who want to be genuine allies, kinSHIFT is a safer space to do the work. &nbs...
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