Articles tagged "Truth and Reconciliation"
Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation Celebrate Naming Ceremony at Kelowna Campus
December 6, 2024
Members of Westbank First Nation along with Okanagan College students, employees and local community members came together at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus for an historic announcement as Westbank First Nation Elders provided two Syilx Okanagan names for the newly opened student housing building on the Kelowna campus.In providing the names, Syilx Okanagan Nation Elders Pamela and Grouse Barnes considered the design of the building, which includes an Indigenous feather design created by Syilx artist Clint George on the exterior a...
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Okanagan College and Okanagan Indian Band Raise Flag and Celebrate Naming Ceremony at Vernon Campus
September 26, 2024
Visitors to Okanagan College’s Vernon campus will notice the OKIB flag flying proudly in the sky.In a historic and meaningful ceremony at Okanagan College’s 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—the 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’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.One of the events that holds particul...
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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 Métis. 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...
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Okanagan College raises Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation flags at Penticton campus
September 28, 2023
A ceremony held today at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus welcomed the permanent raising of the Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Nation flags. Community members and representatives of the Penticton Indian Band (PIB), Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) and Okanagan College (OC) gathered today in ceremony to mark the occasion. The flags formally signify the College’s recognition of the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation, on whose lands the College resides in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon. “A...
Read more...Medicine wheel and traditional teachings inspire OC students preparing for the workplace
June 5, 2023
Okanagan College students preparing for careers as education assistants are benefiting from teaching that goes beyond what you learn from textbooks and in classrooms. Earlier this spring, a seminar led by Dodie Jones, a member of the Splatsin te Secwépemc, introduced students in the Certified Education Assistant Program in Salmon Arm to the medicine wheel, its significance and meaning. The workshop, titled Medicine Wheel and Traditional Teaching – Grounded in Culture, incorporated traditional teachings of the Secwépemc people and ...
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OC grad honoured for contributions to inclusion, democracy and reconciliation
May 20, 2021
When Saige Girouard arrived at Okanagan College to have her photo taken during a grad experience event this week, she took home much more than a snapshot. She left with provincial recognition of her outstanding efforts to bring people together. Girouard, a Bachelor of Business Administration student, became the first OC student to ever receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation. The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal has been a symbol of academic excellence since 1979. In 2019, eligibility for the...
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OC’s 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 – sometimes more than a thousand – to OC’s 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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College and Westbank First Nation sign new MOU, continue to deepen partnership
June 21, 2020
Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation (WFN) recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, building on a long history of working together to increase access and support WFN members in achieving their post-secondary education goals. In all, the new MOU outlines seven ways in which the partners will continue to collaborate on projects and programs that will benefit learners from the WFN community, while helping both organizations learn from one another and build professional capacity. Signing on behalf of Westbank First Na...
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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 OC 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’ʔk’ʷulamən 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'ʔk'ʷulamən 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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Coble earns doctoral degree, shines light on Indigenous students’ 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’s Director of Student Services and father of two, there was no emotion greater than the pride of setting a positive example for his children. “For me, it was the completion of a seven-year journey,” explains Coble. “At 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.” Coble graduated with a D...
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Students savour traditional flavours and practices on Indigenous Culinary Arts field trip
June 26, 2019
Salmon fillets roast on stakes over an open fire while roe bubbles up in a steaming pot of vegetable and fish soup nearby. These are signs of a finished and ready-to-eat meal, yet indicate the start of something special cooking here at Okanagan College. On a field trip to the Westbank First Nation in May, OC’s Indigenous Culinary Arts class had the opportunity to learn about the traditional Okanagan-Syilx style of cooking in a hands-on experience, hosted by Elders Pamela and Grouse Barnes. The gastronomic outing contained a variety...
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