National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Today honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation it is an important opportunity to reflect on our histories, learn about the injustices committed against Indigenous communities, and dedicate ourselves to contribute toward reconciliation. As the PACWEST Conference, our student athletes are honoured to be playing, learning and teaching on the traditional and unceded territory of so many Indigenous peoples. We would like to take this moment to recognize them:
Camosun College campuses are located on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ speaking peoples. The Chargers primary practice and competition facility, PISE, is located on W̱SÁNEĆ (Wh-say-nuch) terrirtory.
Capilano University is named after Chief Joe Capilano, an important leader of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation of the Coast Salish Peoples. We respectfully acknowledge that our campuses are located on the territories of the LíỈwat, xʷməθkʷəỷəm (Musqueam), shíshálh (Sechelt), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and SəỈílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
All of the College of the Rockies campuses are located in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa people which is also home to the Kinbasket people. Five First Nations bands are located in the regional boundary of the College: Four of which are Ktunaxa and one is Shuswap. Additionally, the College partners with the Kootenay Regional Office of the Métis Nation, BC.
Columbia Bible College is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Semá:th First Nation and Mathxwí First Nation.
Douglas College respectfully acknowledges that our campuses are located on the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples.
Langara College acknowledges its location on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation. As we compete at Willoughby Field at Langley Events Centre in the township of Langley we acknowledge that we are on the traditional territories of the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Máthxwi (Matsqui) and Se’mya’me’ (Semiahmoo) First Nations.
Okanagan College respectfully acknowledges that our Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon campuses are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People, our Salmon Arm campus is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc, and our Revelstoke centre is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc, Sinixt and Syilx Okanagan Peoples.
The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.
As an athletic community, we need to take meaningful action to fulfil our collective commitment to reconciliation.