On June 21, the Faculties of Applied Sciences (APSC) and Land and Food Systems (LFS) celebrated the official launch of Weaving Relations, a new course exploring Indigenous histories, people and settler colonialism in Canada.
The launch took place on National Indigenous Peoples Day, a special day within National Indigenous History Month that honours the history, knowledge, & diversity of First Nations, Inuit, & Metis peoples.
Musqueam Elder Doris Fox opened the event with a traditional land welcoming. Fox shared the history of weaving through stories of the community, unraveling the meaning behind the course’s name.
“We are all one,” Fox said. “We weave ourselves together to be dependent and rely on each other in order to survive.”
Weaving Relations is a six hour, self-led Canvas course, developed by Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, senior manager of EDI & Indigeneity and Erin Keely, Indigenous engagement coordinator.
According to Mackenzie, this course marks the first portion of a three-part certification in Indigenous Design and Engagement in Applied Science and Land and Food Systems (IDEAL). The certificate will launch in 2025 and has received over $160,000 in funding through the transformation stream of the Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund.
James Olson, dean of Faculty of Applied Science, and Rickey Yada, dean of Faculty of Land and Food Systems described the collaboration leading up to the course.
“Three years ago, the [APSC] faculty launched Transforming Tomorrow,” said Olson. “One of the six priorities was creating inclusive leaders with competencies of respectful engagement. That was why the Applied Science EDI and Indigeneity office was created… Then, they partnered with Land and Food Systems to grow that office.”
Olson and Yada both expressed their gratitude to the joint-faculty EDI and Indigeneity office for putting the course together.
Elder Bob Baker of the Squamish Nation performed a song with the manáts’a (drum) to prepare the event for “a good journey.”
While the course intends to align with the interests of LFS and APSC faculty and students, Weaving Relations can be taken by anyone with a campus-wide login and an interest in gaining fundamental knowledge on reconciliation efforts and Indigenous engagement.
The course contains seven core modules and offers a mix of video interviews and discussions covering topics of Indigenous language, land, growth and relations. Over 450 members have registered for the course since its launch in January 2023.
In module seven “On Relation”, expert interviewees – Professor John Bass, Professor Majid Mohseni, Will Valley, Professor Margaret Moss, Professor Sheryl Lightfoot and Chancellor Steven Point – shared how settlers can build relationships with Indigenous community.
Dr. Margaret Moss and Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot joined virtually to congratulate the course development team on this milestone.
Beyond faculty commitments to foster inclusive leadership and respectful engagement, Weaving Relations also aligns with Action 34 of UBC’s 2020 Indigenous Strategic Plan, which is “to develop and deliver Indigenous history and issues training for all faculty and staff.”
Honourable Chancellor Steven Point shared local stories of Musqueam warriors and spoke on issues of colonization, economic marginalization, social assimilation as well as reconciliation.
“It’s about time that you learn of our vision for the world,” said Point.
Mackenzie extended appreciation and gifts to all guest speakers, interviewees, course co-developer Erin Keely and video production crew Duncan McHugh and Sahil Sahibole.
Elder Bob Baker tied the last strands of the event together with a final performance of the Chief song.
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