Indigenous Initiatives

I was born and raised in Treaty 8, in Northern Alberta and I am of Métis and mixed European settler heritage. My paternal Métis family is originally from Lac La Biche, Treaty 6. I now live on the ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səl̓ilwətaɬ Nations with my little family. I am citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis government and honour my time spent in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), where I became deeply grounded in values of community, responsibility, and continued learning.

I joined the CTLT Indigenous Initiatives team in the Educational Consultant, Curriculum and Student Development role in December 2020. Prior to this, I completed my master’s degree in education at UBC and worked in student positions focusing on landed learning, student engagement, and support. I taught an online course in Indigenous Literature during the 2020/2021 summer terms at the University of the Fraser Valley. This opportunity furthered my passion for supporting student learning. Before moving to the coast, I held roles that focused on capacity building within non-profit organizations and communities. One of my favorite roles was as a Program Coordinator supporting individuals in gaining their GEDs and working towards achieving their educational goals. My personal and professional experiences have made me curious and passionate about creating safer, community-driven learning environments. I am continuing to learn and deepen my understanding of what this work means on unceded Musqueam territory. I am excited to connect with folks on designing curriculum, creating inclusive classroom climates, and ensuring student voices are heard in all aspects of the classroom.

I’m a second-generation Chinese-Canadian, born and raised on the unceded, ancestral lands of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-watuth peoples. I joined the CTLT Indigenous Initiatives 2015 as an educational developer working to support capacity-building for Indigenous engagement in teaching and learning. In my current role as Senior Strategist, I support and liaise with academic and other partner units on Indigenous and anti-racist strategic educational priorities and initiatives, serve on advisory and curricular committees, consult with faculty on courses and curriculum, and collaborate to manage II team projects, processes, strategy and capacity. I hold a PhD in Comparative Ethnic Studies and have taught post-secondary courses in literary and cultural studies, academic writing, First Nations studies, and Asian Canadian/Asian American studies. I’m also an ICF-trained coach, and I am currently curious about liberatory coaching models that center and support IBPOC leadership, anti-oppressive education, and systemic transformation.

I am a first-generation immigrant of European (Czech) ancestry and came to Canada in the late 1980’s with my family at the age of 6. I grew up in various places in Ontario but spent the majority of my childhood living in Mississauga, Ontario. After completing my B.A, I decided that a change of scenery was needed, so I drove across Canada to BC, where I now work and live with my family. I currently live in Squamish (located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

I joined the Indigenous Initiatives team in July 2022 as an Educational and Evaluation Consultant but have been working at the CTLT since 2016. Before coming to UBC in 2012 to start my PhD, I taught English as an Additional Language in Vancouver for over 8 years before deciding I was ready for school again. I’m passionate about teaching and learning and have taught and TA’d for many years at UBC. I recently completed a certificate in Evaluation for Social Change and Transformational Learning through SFU and am currently on the lookout for my next learning challenge!

Masi! Edanet’e! On my mother’s side I’m Tłı̨chǫ Dene, Ukrainian, and French. Our family names are Camsell, Lafferty, and Koyczan, we’re originally from Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories. On my father’s side I’m Irish. I was born in Yellowknife, NWT and raised in Nunavut and rural BC. I’ve now lived on unceded Coast Salish lands for most of my life, but my connection to the north is integral to my work and identity. I’m also queer, trans, and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer (2SIQ). My roots and sense of belonging in liberatory queer spaces runs deep and shapes how I relate and carry myself in the world.

I am a registered social worker (BSW, MSW) and have primarily worked within 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities throughout my career as a community developer, organizer, advocate, clinical educator, curriculum designer, and consultant. I’ve been teaching and publishing on topics related to decolonizing gender and sexual diversity since 2016. I’m currently completing a PhD in the Interdisciplinary Studies program at UBC, focusing on radical intersections between Dene land-based knowledge and queer ethics of community care.

My role as Indigenous Educational Consultant: Staff Training on the Indigenous Initiatives team is held jointly with Central HR and focuses on developing tools and strategies for both non-Indigenous and Indigenous staff professional development, including individuals, teams, and managers/leaders. My approach prioritizes good relational practice and meeting people where they’re at in the learning process. In addition to staff training, I’m happy to consult on topics relating to land-based education, and 2SIQ studies. Mahsi cho!

I am first generation Korean Canadian and grew up and spent most of my young adult years on the traditional territory of the Iroquois, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe people, which is now known as London, Ontario. I moved to the shared, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, people in 2012 to pursue a Master’s degree in Education at UBC. I am guided by, and strive to be, accountable to the people who have stewarded the lands and waters which I occupy and continuing the lifelong learning in decolonial and community-centered work.

I joined the CTLT in 2013 as a Graduate Academic Assistant and moved into the role of an Educational Resource Developer for the Teaching, Learning and Professional Development team at CTLT for a few years. I joined the Indigenous Initiatives team in 2017 shortly after finishing my degree and feel very privileged to be able to do this work alongside amazing colleagues and community. The work at CTLT Indigenous Initiatives and within a university such as UBC, is very important to me. Growing up in suburbia in the 90’s, I often experienced (or witnessed) racism against IBPOC communities, which brings together my values in how instructors can center IBPOC voices and transformative learning. I am continually learning and exploring how faculty can create a more supportive and productive classroom climate. One of the educational resources that I was part in developing that speaks to ways that faculty can create a supportive and thoughtful classroom climate is through the Renewed What I Learned in Class Today project.