In keeping with the university’s commitments and principles set out in the Indigenous Strategic Plan (ISP) and its goal of becoming a leading voice in the implementation of Indigenous peoples’ human rights, we are pleased to inform you that UBC is embarking on a framework for opportunities at the university designated for Indigenous people.
As part of this, UBC is commencing an engagement process regarding verification of Indigenous citizenship and membership, and is encouraging Indigenous students, faculty, and staff to participate.
Engagement sessions will be held throughout 2025 and 2026 in a variety of formats. These sessions will consider and reflect the unique and complex contexts of both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, as well as UBC’s relationships with the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) and Syilx peoples, and Indigenous communities more broadly. Regular updates and opportunities for participation will be provided as the community engagement moves forward and will be posted online. Indigenous students, faculty and staff wishing to receive information directly about engagement opportunities can sign up with the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives by sending an email to indigenous.citizenship@ubc.ca.
Following the community engagement, UBC plans to convene a Policy Development Committee in accordance with its Regulatory Framework Policy (GA2) to consider and make recommendations to the Board of Governors and Senates regarding an Indigenous Citizenship Declaration Policy at the university. The input received from the engagement sessions will help inform the work of the Policy Development Committee.
President Bacon has appointed the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal (UBC Okanagan), the Provost and Vice-President, Academic (UBC Vancouver), and the Vice-President, Human Resources to lead as Executive project sponsors.
The community engagement process will be jointly led and stewarded by the Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Strategic Plan Executive Advisory Committee (ISPEAC) and the Office of Indigenous Strategic Initiatives (OISI): Adrienne Vedan, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Vice Chancellor & Principal and Allison Beardsworth, Director, Indigenous Strategic Initiatives.
We recognize this is a complex and important topic, and we thank you all in advance for your participation and support in this important process.
Lesley Cormack
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan
Gage Averill
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver
Adam Charania
Vice-President, Human Resources
This message was sent by Bulletin to the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses.