91原创鈥檚 Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has announced that it will now be offering graduation parchments featuring the Indigenous language spoken by the Kwantlen First Nation. The new parchments will feature a blend of English and h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 (pronounced HUN-kuh-MEE-num), making KPU one of the first universities in Canada to offer this option to students.

Zena Mitchell, associate vice-president of enrolment services and registrar at KPU said the university is making a 鈥渕eaningful鈥� commitment to reconciliation and recognizing the Kwantlen First Nation,鈥� whose peoples bestowed their name on our university.鈥�

鈥淭hrough this initiative, we hope to honour the h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 language, support the work led by Indigenous language keepers to revitalize Indigenous languages, and send our graduates off in a good way.鈥�

All KPU graduates in the 2022-23 academic year will receive the new parchments starting with fall grads who will attend convocation ceremonies from Feb. 13 to 17.

Natalie Wood-Wiens, manager of Indigenous services at KPU, first raised the idea of an Indigenous language parchment with Dr. Alan Davis, KPU鈥檚 president and vice-chancellor. The university鈥檚 Indigenous advisory committee provided advice and supported the idea.

鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly excited to have been a part of this initiative at KPU 鈥� a step towards reconciliation by acknowledging and honouring Indigenous languages, and timely given this falls within the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Students who graduate KPU with a h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 language parchment will now have something that further connects them to the Nations on whose lands the university resides,鈥� said Wood-Wiens, who is M茅tis and originally from Manitoba.

Fern Gabriel, a member of Kwantlen First Nation and h蓹n虛q虛蓹min虛蓹m虛 language teacher with 91原创 School District, used her expertise to translate the parchment text.

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