Journeying together towards indigenization and reconciliation

A National Indigenous Peoples Day message from VCC president Ajay Patel

Dear VCC community,

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Vancouver Community College (VCC), being situated on the unceded traditional territories of the x?m?θk??y??m (Musqueam), S?wx?wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and s?l?ilw??ta?? (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, is enriched by the diverse Indigenous peoples, cultures, and knowledge that have been and continue to be on this land. 

For the majority of my life, I have had the privilege and opportunity to study, live, work, and play on the homelands of the Coast Salish people and for that, I am personally grateful. 

During these unique times, when so much of our college work is happening remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’d also like to acknowledge more broadly the unceded territories of the many other Nations on which our students, staff, and faculty study and work.

At VCC, we take our indigenization journey very seriously, and with it, the commitments that our province has recently adopted related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, I encourage all members of our VCC community to join me in this important acknowledgement. From this standpoint, I also challenge you to engage in meaningful study and conversation, as our personal journeys combine to form collective steps towards reconciliation. 

Sincerely,

Ajay Patel
President and CEO
Vancouver Community College