Articles tagged "Indigenous Services"
Okanagan College and Okanagan Indian Band Raise Flag and Celebrate Naming Ceremony at Vernon Campus
September 26, 2024
Visitors to Okanagan College鈥檚 Vernon campus will notice the OKIB flag flying proudly in the sky.In a historic and meaningful ceremony at Okanagan College鈥檚 Vernon campus, members of the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), students, staff, and local community members came together to raise the OKIB flag. The event also marked a special occasion鈥攖he official name-giving ceremony for the newly constructed student housing building on the Vernon campus, which will serve as a welcoming space for learners from across the region.After thoughtful ...
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Honouring Tradition: Rhea Dupuis Reflects on Okanagan College's 15th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow
September 20, 2024
A celebration of culture, resilience, and community that continues to inspire future generations.Since joining Okanagan College as Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation two years ago, Rhea Dupuis has been a dedicated advocate for strengthening ties between the College and Indigenous communities. A member of the Penticton Indian Band, Dupuis plays a key role in promoting access to education for Indigenous learners while supporting the College鈥檚 commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.One of the events that holds particul...
Read more...Indigenous Innovators: Quest for Knowledge, Culture, and Creativity
August 12, 2024
In July, the 热门大瓜 Indigenous Services team had the pleasure of hosting a two-week camp designed for Indigenous kids in grades 4-6, called Indigenous Innovators: Quest for Knowledge, Culture, and Creativity. The Indigenous Services team is grateful to the Camp 热门大瓜 team for helping make this camp a great success.Campers had the opportunity to make Bannock with Salmon Arm Indigenous Services Coordinator, Diyame Derrick Caterer, which made an excellent morning snack. They were also taught the art o...
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Rachel鈥檚 Adventure: A M茅tis Student's Journey Through Study Abroad
June 21, 2024
The following story was submitted by 热门大瓜鈥檚 International Education team:An Okanagan College student has returned from the trip of a lifetime.Rachel, a M茅tis student at Okanagan College (热门大瓜), recently participated in a Discovery Camp in Surabaya, Indonesia. This program, which included 11 热门大瓜 students (three of whom were Indigenous), focused on sustainable development goals and local government initiatives.Rachel's journey was made possible because 热门大瓜 is part of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), which helps studen...
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National Indigenous Peoples Day 2024
June 21, 2024
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis. It's a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada. National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on June 21 and coincides with the summer solstice, a day that holds cultural significance for many Indigenous groups.We refle...
Read more...Medicine Walk by Madeline Terbasket sees standing ovation at 热门大瓜
April 30, 2024
The Okanagan College Penticton campus was delighted to host Madeline Terbasket鈥檚 show 鈥淢edicine Walk鈥 on April 3, 2024, in the Lecture Theatre. Madeline is a local 2Spirit syilx, Ho-chunk and Anishinaabe artist who puts a modern twist on traditional syilx captik史艂 and storytelling. "Madeline鈥檚 show instantly took us captive by sharing their personal experiences through song, dance and comedy," said Sam Smith, Indigenous St...
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Westbank First Nation and Okanagan College sign updated MOU
October 30, 2023
Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation (WFN) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding continuing a long partnership which aims to strengthen the recruitment, mentorship and retention of Syilx learners at 热门大瓜 The MOU lays out the objectives and principles of a partnership that will help guide the College to embrace the spirit and intent of reconciliation and ensure culturally appropriate, meaningful, and quality education and skills training opportunities for WFN learners. Chief Robert Louie, West...
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Convocation stoles featuring Syilx, Secwepemc pictographs honour graduates
June 20, 2022
As Canadians prepare to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Okanagan College is recognizing Indigenous graduates in a new and special way. This year for the first time, Indigenous students who cross the stage at 热门大瓜 convocation and commencement ceremonies are being gifted with a specially designed convocation stole, embroidered with Syilx and Secwepemc pictographs. 鈥淥n National Indigenous Peoples Day and every day, it is critically important that we remember and appreciate the privilege it is to live, work and play on ...
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热门大瓜 鈥楽ticks Up鈥 for Indigenous Student Awards
April 13, 2022
热门大瓜 Indigenous Services and the 热门大瓜 Foundation have teamed up for the annual 鈥楽ticks Up鈥 campaign. They are excited to launch this fundraiser for the NHL鈥檚 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the 热门大瓜 鈥楽ticks Up鈥 for Indigenous Students Award. Yvonne Oppenheimer and Erica Seymour were the inaugural recipients of the 热门大瓜 鈥楽ticks Up鈥 for Indigenous Students Award. The Awards are available to students with Indigenous ancestry who are enrolled in full-time study in any degree, diploma, or certifica...
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热门大瓜 joins Vernon and Salmon Arm communities to hold vigil against violence against women
December 1, 2020
Many activities stopped as a result of the 2020 pandemic. Violence against women, however, is not one of them. This is why communities in the Okanagan and Shuswap are paying special attention to the 31st anniversary of the 脡cole Polytechnique Massacre, in addition to the ongoing cases of missing women from the region, with a Virtual Candlelight Vigil on Dec. 6 co-hosted by a network of organizations and volunteers. 鈥淭he SAFE Society has been partnering with Okanagan College Students鈥 Union and Indigenous Services for over a decade...
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热门大瓜鈥檚 12th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow goes virtual this year
September 29, 2020
When the pandemic struck, organizers of the popular Youth Exhibition Powwow at Okanagan College in Kelowna knew they would have to adapt. Each year, for the past 11 years, the event has drawn crowds of hundreds 鈥 sometimes more than a thousand 鈥 to 热门大瓜鈥檚 courtyard for a day of celebrating, learning about and engaging with Indigenous knowledge and culture. Over the course of a fun-filled day, dancers and accompanying drummers from across the B.C. interior perform in a variety of dance categories including grass, fancy, chicken, jing...
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K鈥檔ma暮ka? S蓹nq芒暮t蓹n garden
June 1, 2020
Stepping along the bark mulch path of K'nma暮ka? S蓹nq芒暮t蓹n, navigating through the dense brush of salmon berry and olive trees, visitors get a rare opportunity to step into a space filled with traditional plants significant to Syilx Okanagan people.K'nma暮ka? S蓹nq芒暮t蓹n (Kalamalka Garden) is an Indigenous garden created in 2017 through a unique collaboration among the Okanagan Indian Band (Elders and community members), Okanagan College and the Food Action Society of the North...
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The Gathering Place
April 30, 2020
The moment you walk through the doors to the Gathering Place, everything seems to change: the light softens, the noise of the day fades away, and you are most likely greeted by a friendly face. Caroline Chartier is the Indigenous Transitions Planner at the Salmon Arm campus, and 热门大瓜 Life caught up with her to get the scoop on what makes the Gathering Place so special. Q: What was intent behind the Gathering Place when it was created? A: To provide a space for Indigenous ...
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na鈥櫴攌鈥櫴穟lam蓹n garden
April 15, 2020
Okanagan College's Kelowna campus is home to a traditional garden established in 2017 to celebrate and recognize the rich history and knowledge of the Indigenous people of the region.The name na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n generally translates to "the things that we do." This reflects things that Indigenous people do with plants and the land, including maintenance of the land; selection and use of plants for food, technology, medicines and for ceremonial purposes; and the sharing of this kn...
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Specialized Training Offered by Lillooet Tribal Council and Okanagan College
March 26, 2020
The Community Adult Learning Centre in Lillooet, B.C., recently partnered with Okanagan College to offer the Introduction to Office Administration training program, a fast-track program designed to build essential office skills necessary to job readiness in the field. Community consultation and local job vacancies highlighted a need for office administration. Yvonne LaRochelle, manager for the Community Adult Learning Centre, set out to close the gap between those in need of work and the office administration jobs available in her...
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Coble earns doctoral degree, shines light on Indigenous students鈥 post-secondary experiences
February 11, 2020
When James Coble crossed the stage to pick up his doctoral degree from the University of Calgary he was overcome with many emotions. But for Okanagan College鈥檚 Director of Student Services and father of two, there was no emotion greater than the pride of setting a positive example for his children. 鈥淔or me, it was the completion of a seven-year journey,鈥 explains Coble. 鈥淎t the end, as I did at every stage, I reminded myself that my kids were always at the top of the list of reasons why I was doing this.鈥 Coble graduated with a D...
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