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Territory Acknowledgement

Resources for Indigenous Students

If you are in crisis and needing support:

24/7 Support Connect is a free, confidential mental health support available for students:
Please call 1-844-773-1427 and/or see website: www.uvic.ca/supportconnect

KUU-US toll free Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888

UVic Supports

Indigenous counsellors and/or nurse liaison for Indigenous students

Student Wellness Centre

Indigenous Counsellor

Roger John supports students wanting to access counselling services for support and strategies to cope with symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, intergenerational trauma related to racism, ongoing colonization and how this impacts identity, belonging or connection.

Email contact: Roger John or Marcey Louie

    Office of Indigenous Academic & Community Engagement (IACE)

    Email the following contact:

    Emergency bursary

    Email the following contact:

    Library

    The library can help with literature review searching, database searching, scholarly resource lists, book recommendations, citation help, loaning media equipment and materials and booking study space.

    Email the following contact:

    Native Student Union

    Financial aid, Campus Cousins events and/or student support

    Email the following contact:

    Support with applying to UVIC and program information

    Email the following contact:

    EQHR Human Rights Advisor

    EQHR provides students, staff, and faculty with support, resolution options, resources and referrals to anyone who has experienced or encountered discrimination, harassment, bullying or sexualized violence.

    Contact information:

    Ombudsperson

    The ombudsperson is an independent, impartial and confidential resource for all students and members of the UVic community who is available to help resolve student problems or disputes fairly.

    Email the following contact:

    Supports within Faculties and Programs

    Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

    Email Contact: Wendy Mah

    Wendy Mah assists students with issues around administrative (course registration, funding, program requirements, dissertation requirements). She provides student advocacy and leads them to resources that can assist them in more detail (i.e. counselling, student financial aid, faculty members that have experience/expertise).

    Faculty of Education

    Email Contact: Christine Webster

    Deanna Nicolson, Program Assistant, fields student inquiries such as undergraduate or graduate Indigenous Language Revitalization program information (Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency, Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization, Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization, Master’s in Indigenous Language Revitalization).

    Pam Bevan, Administrative Assistant, helps students with Education programs such as Teaching and Learning Indigenous Perspectives TQS course set, Summer Institute (post-degree program – pending), and on-campus electives.

    Faculty of Engineering

    Email Contact: Anne Tolson

    Students (undergraduate engineering students or those seeking basic information) can contact the Faculty of Engineering at engr@uvic.ca or 250-721-6023.  Students interested specifically in computer science  programs at UVic can contact cscrecep@uvic.ca  or call 250-472-5700.

    Faculty of Fine Arts

    Email Contact: Sarah Riecken

    Students wanting information on course registration can contact each department directly:

    AHVS – ahvsasst@uvic.ca
    ART – visualarts@uvic.ca
    FA – fineasst@uvic.ca
    MUS – musicadmin@uvic.ca
    THEA – theatre@uvic.ca
    WRIT – writing@uvic.ca

    Pre-admission inquiries for prospective students in the Faculty of Fine Arts can contact recruitment@uvic.ca.

    Faculty of Human and Social Development

    Email Contact: Shauna Underwood

    Shauna Underwood is the contact for students seeking information on academic support, advocacy, cultural support, crisis support, assistance in applying to HSD, outreach to Elders and community connections.

    Faculty of Humanities

    Email Contact: Camille Santos

    • Inquiries regarding leadership or policy issues for the faculty of Humanities can contact the Dean of Humanities at deanhums@uvic.ca.
    • Inquiries regarding undergraduate programs or curriculum in the Humanities, contact the Associate Dean Academic at humsada@uvic.ca.
    • Inquiries regarding graduate programs or research in the Humanities, contact the Associate Dean at humsadr@uvic.ca.
    • General Dean’s Office inquiries or to book meetings with the Associate Dean Academic or Associate Dean Research, contact Humsassist@uvic.ca.
    • Inquiries related to the Dean’s portfolio and to book meetings with the Dean, contact the Assistant to the Dean at humsoff@uvic.ca.
    • Inquiries about support for students, staff and faculty regarding Indigenous resurgence, decolonization initiatives, contact Tri-faculty Indigenous Resurgence Coordinator at  tfirc@uvic.ca
    • Inquiries regarding communications, Twitter, Facebook or news stories regarding Humanities, contact Humanities Faculty Communications Officer at humscom@uvic.ca.
    • Inquires about budget, staff issues, office space, contact  Humanities Director Administration at humsfm@uvic.ca.
    • Inquires about grants crafting and award nominations for faculty, contact Humanities Research Coordinator at humsresearch@uvic.ca.
    Faculty of Law

    Email Contact: Zubaida Khan

    Zubaida provides direct guidance and holistic support to students in the JD and JD/JID programs, with their transition to, and success within law school.  This includes coordinating Elder visits and planning cultural events for Indigenous students.  Zubaida advises the Dean on equity issues within the faculty and offers advocacy and support to students experiencing racism, systemic barriers and other inequities.  She liaises with OSL, EQHR, and the Office of the Ombudsperson when students require further support.

    Faculty of Science

    Email Contact: Laura Cowen

    Faculty of Social Science

    Email Contact: Lori Cretney

    Lori Cretney responds to general inquiries to the Dean’s Office from faculty, students and the university community. Students can direct specific questions and inquiries to the appropriate person or department including:

    • Course registration inquiries for ANTH, ECON, ES, GEOG, POLI, PSYC and SOCI courses – contact the department offering the course.
    • Inquiries and registration assistance for interdisciplinary programs and SOSC courses, contact idpassis@uvic.ca
    • Academic advice and support for students in the Faculty of Social Sciences is provided by the Advising Centre for Humanities, Science and Social Sciences, contact advising@uvic.ca
    • Admission are handled by the University Admissions Office. Indigenous students are encouraged to contact the UVic Indigenous recruiter David Busch at indigenous.recruiter@uvic.ca.
    Indigenous Resurgence Coordinator: Faculties of Social Science, Science and Humanities

    Email Contact: Lydia Toorenburgh

    Support and Advocacy for Indigenous students in the Tri-Faculty is offered by Lydia Toorenburgh. She can assist students in Science, Social Science, and Humanities to connect with other students, staff, and instructors, and provide advocacy for students with concerns or conflicts.

    Island Medical Program

    Email Contact: James Andrew & Meghan MacGillvray

    In the MD Admissions office, the Indigenous Initiatives team supports current and future applicants to the MD Program. They answer questions about the application process and timeline, admission requirements, evaluation criteria and supplemental requirements for Indigenous applicants.

    Division of Continuing Studies

    Email Contact: Tania Muir

    Supports for your University Experience

    215+

    On June 1, a Sacred Fire ceremony was held on campus to offer support to students, staff, faculty and Elders as we honoured the 215 Indigenous children found by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. This page contains resources and videos related to this event.

    Learn about 215+

    Self care teachings

    Gerry Ambers (ʼNa̱mǥis / Kwakwaka’wakw), Elder-in-Residence at the First Peoples House, offers viewers several ways to stay calm and grounded in these challenging times. Produced by the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement at UVic.

    Self Care Teachings

    What I Learned in Class Today: Aboriginal Issues in the Classroom

    This research project explores difficult discussions of Aboriginal issues that take place in classrooms at the University of British Columbia. Students frequently report troubling and sometimes traumatic discussions of cultural issues in class. These situations often affect their ability to function in their coursework, and even their ability to return to class.

    Learn about issues in classroom

    UVIC Learn Anywhere

    We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the University of Victoria stands, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.