At Trinity Western University in 91原创, Patricia Victor has been leading faculty researchers to better understand the St贸:l艒 land and context where Trinity Western was founded in 1962.
鈥�(We) tell our own stories of the significant places鈥o that we have not just a Trinity Western history, but also the Indigenous history of the land where we鈥檙e located,鈥� said Victor in an interview for Canada鈥檚 National Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, June 21.
Victor is St贸:l艒 from Cheam First Nation, B.C. She is also the pastor of a First Nations church in Chilliwack and an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.
鈥淪t贸:l艒 means river,鈥� she explained, 鈥淲e are walking beside the Fraser River, hearing stories and history. (We are) looking at the current context, and at what we鈥檙e doing today that is having an impact on St贸:l艒 people.鈥�
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鈥� Victor鈥檚 journey at TWU began when she was a graduate student, pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership with a focus on Christian ministry.
While pursuing graduate studies at TWU, Victor was invited to join a TWU task force whose purpose was to build good relationships with the Indigenous community.
When Victor graduated in 2012, she was invited to become TWU鈥檚 first-ever University Siya:m. In the language of the St贸:l艒 people, 鈥淪iya:m鈥� describes a leader recognized for wisdom and integrity, who willingly shares knowledge with others.
Victor describes how her role as Siya:m has three main areas of focus. The first is to raise awareness of Indigenous perspectives among the TWU community.
Victor鈥檚 second area of focus is caring for students.
The third component of Victor鈥檚 work is building relationships beyond TWU鈥檚 campuses. Her work is to foster connections with TWU and Aboriginal communities and to build educational partnerships.
The School of Nursing, for example, has provided opportunities for students to fulfill their practicums within St贸:l艒 Indigenous communities. The School of Education has partnerships with Indigenous schools, and places students within Indigenous classrooms for teaching practicums. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had good opportunity there,鈥� said Victor about the nursing and education partnerships.
Victor sees these partnerships as key to moving forward. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 not just 鈥榰s and them鈥� but that solid relationship,鈥� she said.
June is National Aboriginal History Month.
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