For anyone new to academia, there’s a bit of confusion and trepidation. Why do the professors wear those gowns at Convocation? How do you know when and where to apply for a scholarship? What’s a graduate degree? For Aboriginal students, the gap between their worldview and mainstream academic culture can be even wider. Throw in decades…

By Shawn Conner, Vancouver Sun In a forum that pulls together topics ranging from mandatory courses to traditional long-houses, Canadian educators and administrators are meeting this week to look at ways to better integrate First Nations values and culture into post-secondary institutions. The first of its kind, the gathering Monday and Tuesday at the University…

It’s one thing to incorporate indigenous content into courses and programs. But the University of the Fraser Valley is taking the concept of partnering with the Aboriginal community to a new level by committing to the concept of “indigenizing” the academy. What this means and how it is achieved will be the subject of a…

After most classes ended in May, the work of one small group of students continued. For the first time last year, UFV introduced a three-course project called the Lens of Empowerment.  The students worked with digital photography and video production, then used these skills to dive into specific topics related to women and identity in…