The Sylix people and UBC Okanagan have forged a new path of partnership and inclusion. The pursuit of academic excellence in an environment that embraces, supports and celebrates our diversity will continue to advance and transform our societies. This beautiful land, is the land of our ancestors and a legacy to future generations. In our songs and stories we remember “Our land is beautiful. We are beautiful because our land is beautiful”.
On behalf of the Syilx peoples, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Syilx Chief’s Executive Council, is pleased to congratulate the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus on its Centennial anniversary and UBC Okanagan campus on its tenth anniversary. UBC was established in 1915 with only 379 students enrolled. From humble beginnings to today where UBC boasts a student body of 59,659, two main campuses and numerous satellite sites. UBC is recognized around the world as a global centre for research and teaching.
Over the past 100 years, the developing history of the university overlooked the Indigenous peoples of this land. BC campuses were built on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people and Okanagan peoples. However, our people acknowledge and value UBC’s leadership and commitment to change. In the 1970’s UBC offered the first “Native Law” course. There were no Indigenous scholars and only one indigenous law student. Today, there are 1337 Aboriginal students enrolled at UBC. UBC has also forged protocol agreements to readdress historical injustices with the Musqueam people. When the Okanagan campus was established UBC did not hesitated to acknowledge that their new campus was situated on Okanagan Territory. From the signing of 2005 MOU with the Okanagan Nation, and the desire to renew this MOU in 2015, UBC has demonstrated a commitment to building a mutually respectful relationship with the Syilx Nation and respective member communties.
UBC Okanagan is host to an Indigenous Studies program and already two Okanagan Nation members have graduated with a PhD. This past year, UBC has announced several Aboriginal Engagement Initiatives, most notably in the Okanagan, the Cultural Safety symposium. This initiative builds on a partnership between UBC Okanagan, the Okanagan Nation Alliance and Interior Health. It supports Cultural Safety in Health care for all Aboriginal people residing in the Okanagan territory.
The Sylix people and UBC Okanagan have forged a new path of partnership and inclusion. The pursuit of academic excellence in an environment that embraces, supports and celebrates our diversity will continue to advance and transform our societies. This beautiful land, is the land of our ancestors and a legacy to future generations. In our songs and stories we remember “Our land is beautiful. We are beautiful because our land is beautiful”.
Congratulations! May the next 100 years bring more innovation, creativity and a continued willingness to challenge ourselves and each other to create a better world for the Graduating class of 2115!
Lim’limpt
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
Chairman, Okanagan Nation Alliance