The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) supported Indigenous youth athletes as a co‑presenting sponsor of the 2026 Junior All Native Tournament (JANT), the largest Indigenous youth sports gathering in British Columbia and one of the largest basketball tournaments in Canada.  Held in Langley from March 15 to 20, 2026, the landmark 50th edition of…

The University of the Fraser Valley is welcoming Byng Giraud as its first Executive-in-Residence, focused on supporting practical approaches to economic reconciliation through work with Indigenous nations and organizations.  As UFV transitions from reconciliation as a concept to 'Reconcili-action' as a tangible reality, the president of Vancouver-based Sedgewick Strategies will work towards bridging the gap between academic learning/institutional policy and real-world partnerships, with a focus on Indigenous businesses.  Supported and hosted by UFV’s Faculty of Business and…

As you walk the halls and pathways of UFV’s campuses, you’ll encounter many pieces of Indigenous art, entrusted to this community by the artists who created them. Teresa Carlson, the university’s curator, collaborates with these creators to document and share their work with the world. “Indigenous art isn’t just a picture or carving on the wall; it’s a representation…

Kamaldeep (Kam) Singh Sandhu is using his talent for business development, improving the economic outlook for BC Indigenous communities.    The 2025 recipient of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) is a graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Business Administration program (2012). A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Aboriginal Finance Manager…

Hi:olemtel Clarence Pennier, known to most people as Kat, has devoted his life to fighting for equity for Indigenous people in general, and the Stó:lō people in particular. Land rights, Aboriginal rights, education, and reconciliation are among the causes he has advocated for through a long list of formal roles, jobs, and projects. As he…

As summer draws near, so does the opportunity for UFV students to dive into meaningful research through the BMO Collaboratorium.  Keith Carlson, Canada Research Chair and director of the Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC), has lined up several projects with community partners, and continues to look for more. The BMO Collaboratorium provides those partners with…

When Christine Seymour crossed the stage as the first-ever Indigenous graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Science program in 2000, she planned for a future in science.  But her culture and language came calling.  She worked for a couple of years at the federal agricultural research facility in Agassiz before entering the teacher education program at…

The 2021 atmospheric river flooding in the eastern Fraser Valley was devastating, but sometimes, a negative event can be the catalyst for positive change.   For UFV alumni Jenna Noppen (BA ‘19), a Cowessess First Nation Member born and raised within Coast Salish territory, the disaster revealed significant gaps in emergency preparedness and management for Indigenous…

A UFV professor is a key contributor to a significant report on missing Indigenous children, unmarked graves, and burial sites associated with residential schools.  Dr. Mark Kersten, an assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice, researched and drafted four chapters in the 1,300+ page document that was released last October.  Compiled by special interlocuter Kimberly…

Before Jordon Fernandez enrolled in the University of the Fraser Valley’s (UFV) Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building program last year, he says he didn’t know enough about Indigenous peoples in the Fraser Valley.  “On a scale of one to 10, I’d say I was at a one,” he admits. “I knew there was lots to learn, but…

Walking into Longhouse Branding and Marketing, the values instilled by founder Keenan Beavis are immediately evident. The office buzzes with a team of nearly 15 people, working collaboratively in one large open space – reflecting the long-standing traditions of the Stó:lō People, who have done so for generations in their longhouses. Keenan is an up-and-coming…

Brenda (Xyolholemo:t) L. Crabtree, a distinguished alumna of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to Indigenous art, culture, and education. This prestigious accolade acknowledges her dedicated work in revitalizing and promoting Indigenous heritage for more than 40 years, making…