As you may be aware, Shirley Hardman is currently on sabbatical, returning on May 1, 2018. In Shirley’s absence, Dr. Stelómethet Ethel Gardner will be available to support Indigenization efforts on campus. This can include meeting with faculty or staff, and providing presentations to classes depending on the topic areas (Ethel’s areas of expertise include Indigenous education and Aboriginal language revitalization).
Dr. Stelómethet Ethel B. Gardner is a Stó:lō member of the Skwah First Nation in B.C., with a PhD from Simon Fraser University, an EdM from Harvard, an MEd from the University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Tsk’‘kel Program, and a BEd from UBC’s Native Indian Teacher Education Program (NITEP). Her career in the field of education spans over three decades, and includes a passion for work in Aboriginal language revitalization.
Dr. Gardner was the Associate Director (1987-99) of the First Nations House of Learning at UBC, where the goal was to bring the University and Indigenous communities closer together and to work with the University to respond to community-determined priorities in post-secondary education. As a university faculty member, Dr. Gardner led the design and development of unique Indigenous teacher education programs: at Simon Fraser University (2002-2006), the Stó:lō/SFU Developmental Standard Term Certificate; and at Lakehead University (2006-2010), the Honours Bachelor of Education Aboriginal Program. At the University of Alberta (2010-2014) Dr. Gardner assumed a leading role with the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) in the Faculty of Education. Gardner retired from U of A in 2014, and is currently living in BC. Since then, she has worked as an Elder-in-Residence with Simon Fraser University, Douglas College, and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Additionally, Dr. Gardner has taught sessional courses in the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV)’s Bachelor of General Studies (NVIT ChAD Cohort) and co-taught a course on Indigenizing the Academy for UFV faculty and staff.
Ethel can be reached via email at ethel.gardner@ufv.ca or you can drop to see her in the office in B314.