I am grateful to work and live in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc within the unceded territory of the Secwépemc people. I have lived on these lands for most of my life and feel deeply connected to its rivers, mountains and valleys. This sculpture of wolves, ’Mélemst̓ye’ in Secwepemctsín, was installed to mark Thompson Rivers University’s 50th anniversary. In the oral history of the Secwépemc people the wolves taught people to hunt and be succesful hunters.
“TRU Wolves” flickr photo by Thompson Rivers Uni shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license
Thompson Rivers University acknowledges the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwépemc’ulucw, reside on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. TRU also acknowledges the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Tŝilhqot’in, Nuxalk, and Dakelh Peoples, on whose traditional territories we are privileged to live, work, and play. Through our work we are committed to incorporate Indigenous epistemologies, pedagogies and ontologies into our actions and understandings, supporting decolonization, reconciliation, and Indigenization.
“Saamis Teepee” flickr photo by Storm Rider Photography shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
I am also grateful to now be learning at the University of Calgary as a guest on the lands of the peoples of Treaty 7 and the Métis Nation of Alberta. I was able to experience a glimpse of the beauty of these cultures at the Elbow River Camp at the Calgary Stampede.
The Saamis Tepee pictured above was built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. The masts each depict aspects of the culture and history of the Indigenous peoples of the northern plains.
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).