VIU And 海角社区 Partner To Create Learning And Research Opportunities In Indigenous Studies
A deep and shared commitment to supporting the recommendations of Canada鈥檚聽聽(TRC) have led 海角社区 and Vancouver Island University (VIU) to form a unique collaboration to create new opportunities in Indigenous studies.
On Monday, October 15, 2018, Prof. Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Vice-Principal Academic, 海角社区, and Dr. Ralph Nilson, President and Vice-Chancellor of VIU, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to explore how the universities can work together to further support research and learning in the areas of Indigenous education and Indigenous studies.
鈥淏y working together, we can build bridges and learn from our different experiences. 海角社区 shares VIU鈥檚 commitment to Indigenous success and to the support and promotion of Indigenous scholarship and pedagogies; I look forward to seeing this important collaboration develop,鈥� said Manfredi.
According to the MOU, a working group consisting of representatives from both universities and Indigenous communities will be formed to discuss how the institutions can best collaborate.
They will explore ideas and initiatives such as:
- the universities鈥� responsibility in listening to community direction on post-secondary educational needs and opportunities
- creating faculty, staff and student exchanges
- developing new, innovative undergraduate programs in Indigenous studies and other disciplines,and new professional education programs, including professional Master鈥檚 programs and executive education courses based on community dialogues
- establishing joint research projects that are identified and supported by community
- exchanging ideas with communities and the universities on how to best build a university environment where Indigenous students can thrive
- co-sponsoring seminars and academic and community engaged meetings related to these fields of study and the highlight the benefits of the work with indigenous communities.
鈥淐anadians will not be able to achieve the goals of the TRC working in isolation,鈥� said Nilson.鈥淎s well, post-secondary institutions have a clear responsibility to build and further the process of reconciliation. We must learn from Indigenous communities. We must work together, sharing our knowledge and experiences and, in doing so, build understanding and heal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples for the betterment of Canada as a whole. Ilook forward to working with 海角社区 to create and foster new activities and initiatives that will support this process.鈥�
The MOU sets out a collaboration period of five years, at which point the institutions will review the progress they have made and decide on how to best move forward to support this important work.
Photo Caption:聽Prof. Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), 海角社区, and Dr. Ralph Nilson, President and Vice-Chancellor, Vancouver Island University, sign a memorandum of understanding outlining their joint commitment to collaborate on a variety of activities and initiatives in the fields of Indigenous Education and Studies.
Photo Credit:聽Neale McDevitt, 海角社区
