A Timeline
Selkirk College continues to build relationships and create mutual trust and respect that allows us to carry out Indigenous activities, projects and events at Selkirk, with the full support of our First Nations and Métis partners.
Significant events and partnerships are supported through the offices of the President and Vice President, and in partnership with Indigenous Services for Students, the Teaching and Learning Institute, Continuing Education and the Mir Centre.
Do you know of an event that fits in this timeline? Please contact Jessica Morin to share your knowledge to grow this collection of moments in time at Selkirk College.
Partnerships Broadening
2002 - Public act of Reconciliation by the leader of the local Doukhobor community and Elders of the Sinixt Nation. This took place at a Mir Centre for Peace gathering at Selkirk College
2009 - 2012 - Consultation, design, construction, and official opening ceremony of the Gathering Place at the Castlegar Campus. The opening ceremony had representatives from the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Ktunaxa Nation Council, the Colville Confederated Tribes, and the Metis Nation of BC. (as well as a large attendance by community partners)
2009 - Ongoing - Work with regional First Nations and Métis governments on government-to government memoranda of understanding
2010 - present - Relationship development with the En’owkin Centre, Native Education Centre, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT)
2012 - Justice Murray Sinclair lecture presented by the Mir Centre for Peace; attended by about 800 community members. Justice Sinclair also participated in an event for staff and students as the first guest speaker in Selkirk College’s Aboriginal Gathering Place
2012 - Cooperation and transfer agreement signed with NVIT
2013 - Inaugural Strengthening Our Relations Regional Aboriginal Youth and Educators Conference
2013 - Two-day Indigenization workshop with Dianne Binn of Camosun College
2013 - Formation of the Community of Practice on Indigenization
2013 - Change to the college’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee structure to include the Aboriginal Programming Circle and President’s Advisory Panel
Learn more about Indigenous Services at Selkirk College...
2013 - Dr. Shawn Wilson: Research is Ceremony. Exploring Indigenous philosophies and research paradigms
2014 - Aboriginal Educators and Support Workers Summit - Educators from across the Columbia Basin came together to discuss collaborative initiatives and partnerships in Indigenous education
2014 - Signing of MOU partnership agreement with Métis Nation BC
2014 - Indigenous Perspectives on Healing and the Expressive Arts: Panel Discussion
2014 - Dr. Fyre Jean Graveline: Indigenous perspective on education and “Circle Works” faculty workshop
2014/15 - Multiple community presentations of the “Blanket Exercise” at the Gathering Place
2015 - Sturgeon Nose Canoe Project with Dr. Shawn Brigman (Ancestral Architect), and Chief Jason Louie (Traditional Knowledge Keeper) of the Lower Kootenay Band presented in partnership with COINS and the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance
2015 - Strengthening Our Relations Regional Aboriginal Youth and Educators Conference – Identity and Belonging Keynote panel: Robert Watt (Sinixt Village Caretaker), Lauren Terbasket (Okanagan/Exectuive Director of the Enowkin Centre), Dr. Christopher Horsethief (Ktunaxa), Colette Trudeau (Metis Nations BC) Keynote panel video - password: SOR2015
2015 - Official launch of an Elders Program at Selkirk College
2015 - Selkirk College, alongside our First Nation, Métis and community partners, signed the CICan (Colleges and Institutes Canada) Indigenous Education Protocol. This signing ceremony was celebrated in the Gathering Place
2016 - Speakers Series and Co-teaching Pilot Project
2016 - First Annual Indigenous Graduate Honoring Brunch
2016 - SSHRC Project - Exploring Reconciliation Through Community College Education
2016 - N’syllcen Language Classes (May, October)
2016 - Ktunaxa Language Classes (June, October)
2016 - EDCO Task Force on Indigneization
2016 - Regional Aboriginal Youth and Educators Conference Featuring Keynote Speaker Wab Kinew
2016 - Gathering Place Student Collective and Programming Hub