Addressing Systemic Racism

Mar 3: Diversity in Biology Speaker Series: Application of ‘Omics Tools for the Analysis of Food Integrity

Join Dr. Yaxi Hu as she discusses the application of omics tools to solve a variety of food integrity-related challenges. This presentation will focus on how Dr. Hu has applied omics tools to solve a variety of food integrity-related challenges. Learn more. . . .

Mar 4: Public Anthropology Speaker Series: Latinx Languages + Identities Beyond Borders

The Public Anthropology Speaker Series invites you to attend a presentation by Dr. Jonathan Rosa. In this presentation, Dr. Rosa approaches Latinx experiences as crucial sites for examining the (re)production of racial linguistics, national borders as well as for reimagining worlds beyond these borders. Learn more . . . 

Mar 7: Hounouring Indigenous Writers: Reading and Conversation with Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and Dallas Hunt

Join a reading and conversation with Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm and Dallas Hunt. Learn more . . . 

Mar 9: Hounouring Indigenous Writers: Making a Difference Editing Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a multi-lingual, web-based, free encyclopedia based on a model of open community-generated knowledge. The community-driven nature of Wikipedia is meant to support Wikipedia’s goal of providing “…every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge.” However, information gaps, biases, exclusions, and assumptions about neutrality means more work is needed to change this space. Learn more . . . 

Mar 10: Anti-Racist Thought and Activism in History—Conversation with Najat el Hachmi

The Public Humanities Hub Okanagan (PHH-O) is pleased to host a virtual speaker series, Anti-Racist Thought and Activism in History. These speakers will address how past experiences and historical models of anti-racist activism can continue to give guidance to ongoing thought and anti-racist work. All events are free and open to the public, registration is required.

Join this speaker series for a discussion about anti-racist thought and activism in history with Najat el Hachmi. Learn more . . .

Mar 10: Diversity in Biology Speaker Series: Type-I Interferon Signaling in CNS Homeostasis and Parkinson-like Dementia

Join Dr. Erika B. Villanueva as she discuses how neuronal and glial immune signaling in the central nervous system contributes to brain homeostasis and health. Learn more . . .

Mar 10: Open Education Week: The 6R’s of Indigenous Open Educational Resources: Re-imagining OER to Honour Indigenous Knowledge and Sovereignty

Join us for a chat with Kayla Lar-Son who will explore some of the concerns around Open Education Resources and Indigenous Knowledges.

Mar 10: Hounouring Indigenous Writers: Reading with Joshua Whitehead

Join us for a special reading with award-winning author Joshua Whitehead, in conversation with Daniel Heath Justice, part of Honouring Indigenous Writers events. Learn more . . . 

Mar 11: Community, Culture and Global Studies 2022 Speaker Series: Reconcilable or Irreconcilable Differences? Two Indigenous Profs reflect on Indigenous Methodologies in a Post-Secondary World

The Community, Culture and Global Studies 2022 Speaker Series invites you to attend a talk by Dr. Shawn Wilson and Dr. Margaret Kovach. Dr. Kovach and Dr. Wilson will reflect upon their experiences as post-secondary professors researching and teaching Indigenous methodologies. Learn more . . . 

Mar 16: Hounouring Indigenous Writers: Reading with Kim Senklip Harvey

Join an author reading with Kim Senklip Harvey, who will be reading from her story, Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story. Learn more . . . 

Mar 22: Hounouring Indigenous Writers: Books to Build on Workshop: Indigenous Literatures for Learning

Join us for a workshop and discussion about the Books to Build On: Indigneous Literatures for Learning project. In this talk, the Books to Build on team will walk us through the resource, and the process of its creation. This event is co-organized with UBC Vancouver and University of Calgary. Learn more . . . 

Book Launch: An Evening with Dr. Margaret Kovach

The Okanagan School of Education’s Graduate Programs and Centre for Mindful Engagement are pleased to welcome Dr. Margaret Kovach, Professor, Department of Educational Studies, Faculty of Education, UBC to the Okanagan campus on Thursday, February 17. Dr. Margaret Kovach will be discussing her latest book Indigenous Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts (2nd edition). Learn more . . .

Public Anthropology Speaker Series: Shaa Tóok to Shiqi-Place in Language Reclamation

The Public Anthropology Speaker Series invites you to attend a discussion with Dr. Christine Schreyer and Dr. Shannon Ward. Dr. Ward and Dr. Schreyer discuss the role of place in language reclamation by exploring the Taku River Tlingit Place Names Reclamation Project and Family Folkstories from minoritized Chinese languages. Learn more . . . 

Book Launch: White Space, Race, Privilege, and Cultural Economies of the Okanagan Valley

The Department of English and Cultural Studies is please to host the launch of a new book edited by Daniel Keyes and Luis Aguiar. White Space, Race, Privilege, and Cultural Economies of the Okanagan Valley, published by UBC Press, was released in the fall of 2021. Learn more . . . 

Diversity in Biology Speaker Series: Chemical Ecology of Plant Defense and Multi-trophic Interactions: Bad Bugs, Pungent Parasites and Toxic Travelers

The Diversity in Biology Speaker Series invites you to attend a talk by Dr. Jared Ali. This talk will discuss the behaviour and chemical ecology of multi-trophic interactions, including plant responses to herbivory, nematode and insect chemical ecology, in agricultural and conservation contexts. Learn more . . .

Public Anthropology Speaker Series: Truth Before Reconciliation: The Role of Archaeology in Restorative Justice in Canada

The Public Anthropology Speaker Series invites you to attend a presentation with Dr. Kisha Supernant. In this presentation, Dr. Supernant explores how archaeology is transforming from an extractive, colonial discipline to one that can support the needs and goals of systemically excluded groups. Drawing on examples from her work, she demonstrates the possibilities of archaeology as part of restorative justice. Learn more . . .

Apr 14: Diversity in Biology Speaker Series: the Microbiome, Chronic Abdominal Pain and IBD

Join Dr. Yasmin Nasser as she touches on recognizing the burden of chronic pain in the absence of inflammation in Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). She will explore how microbial manipulation models the development of visceral pain in a mouse model of IBD followed by a demonstration that microbial derived soluble products are able to sensitize pain-sensing neurons.

Learn more. . . .

UBCO book club hosts award-winning author Ian Williams

Faculty of Creative and Critical StudiesUBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies hosted Scotiabank Giller prize winner Ian Williams in an evening of open discussion and a reading from his latest work. The distinguished author of fiction, nonfiction and poetry is hosted by UBCO’s Anti-Racist Reading Book Club and Kevin Chong, assistant professor of creative writing. Earlier this month, members of the club read Williams’ latest work Disorientation and met to discuss the book prior to this public event.

This event is partially funded by the UBC Anti-Racism Initiatives Fund and UBCO’s Creative Studies department. Participants will hear Williams’ perspective on how reading and creative writing are affected by racism. Read more . . . 

BEd students begin term with learning connected to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On September 7, Okanagan School of Education (OSE) Bachelor of Education (BEd) students began their term with an orientation that shared the Okanagan Song, sung by Jordan Coble, Westbank First Nation Counsellor, and, Syilx artist Sheldon Louis relayed the stories undergirding his painting, cax̌alqs — red dress, which is located in the Okanagan School of Education.

Further experiences in early September built on these connections, including an online workshop about Syilx stories and relational pedagogy, facilitated by Kenthen Thomas, storyteller from the Secwepemc Nation, and Dr. Bill Cohen, OSE assistant professor, and an online day-long experiential workshop facilitated by Kelly Terbasket, Program Director, IndigenEYEZ.

Later this month students will participate in an online workshop by poet Dennis Saddleman, who will share his poems confronting the violence of residential schools and the healing powers of poetry. Throughout the month of September, BEd students will read from Indigenous authors and gain familiarization with policy documents to support educators’ professional development. These efforts will continue throughout the entire year.

UBC Okanagan’s Gender and Women’s Studies Program presents: Elaine Alec

Elaine Alec is from the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation and Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation and is a member of the Penticton Indian Band. She has been a political advisor, Chief of Staff for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, community planner for her own First Nation, employee for the Province of BC and Federal Government, and an entrepreneur. She is a first-time author of Calling My Spirit Back, a memoir about growing up as an Indigenous girl in Canada, and the impacts of colonization.

The Anti-Racist Feminisms Speaker Series is supported by UBC’s Anti-Racism Initiatives Fund, and by the Department of Community, Culture, and Global Studies.

Digital wellness project for young Indigenous men: Preliminary results from a community-based participatory project

June 17 | 12 to 1:30 p.m. PT

Join the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention to celebrate Men’s Health week, and hear the preliminary results from a community-based participatory project aiming to understand how digital media influences the identity, health, and wellness of young Indigenous men who are students at UBC Okanagan. . . Register now

A Talk with Dr. Kerrie Charnley: Why we capitalize the ‘I’ in Indigenous

What is the most respectful way to communicate with and about Indigenous Peoples and individuals? in this webinar participants will be introduced to guiding insights from Gregory Younging’s Elements of Indigenous Style (2018) . . . Read more

Truth and the Role of Engineers in Decolonization

school of engineering, faculty of applied science

Join the Faculty of Applied Science for a speaker series which will introduce our UBC Engineering community to Indigenous knowledge keepers, industry professionals and faculty from across Canada. . . . Read more

A statement from the School of Nursing on the In Plain Sight Report

school of nursing, faculty of health and social development

The release of the report In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care exposes the longstanding, pervasive, and systemic racism that exists throughout the health care system in BC . . . Read more

Weaving the Threads of Indigenous Stories

college of graduate studies

Five years ago, Sandra Fox was working as an Aboriginal Student Advisor with UBC Okanagan’s Aboriginal Programs and Services.. . . read more

UBCO researcher says equity is key to global health

faculty of health and social development

A UBC researcher says the COVID-19 outbreak provides a distinct example of how different populations are differentially affected by health issues . . . read more