FIRST NATIONS ACCESS

The First Nations/Aboriginal Access coordinator provides support for students of aboriginal ancestry, both status, non-status, and Metis. Services and support for students are offered in the Aboriginal Resource Centre, Chilliwack campus, Room D136. For more information, see Aboriginal Resource Centre section below, or call 604-702-2615.

Student Services educational support

Refer to the Student Services section of this calendar for information and contact numbers for the following services:

• Educational Advising
• Counselling
• Student Financial Aid Services
• Student Events

S’olh Shxwlèlí
Aboriginal Resource Centre

(Officially opened November 8, 2000)

Welcome to traditional Stó:lÇ territory. Within these traditional lands exist 24 bands. The aboriginal students from these and other territories are an important part of the UCFV student population.

The Aboriginal Resource Centre provides a doorway to aboriginal students who intend to study at UCFV. The First Nations Access coordinator works from the Aboriginal Resource Centre, as does the centre coordinator, student monitors, and student volunteers. The centre is open from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Cultural activities are open to all students and include circle meetings, Elders gatherings, Stó:lÇ-oriented workshops, and other events both on and off campus.

Services

The centre:

• advocates for students with other UCFV departments
• makes referrals within UCFV and to community agencies and other institutions
• consults on curriculum development initiatives
• acts as liaison with Stó:lÇ Nations, post-secondary education authorities, Metis societies, and other First Nations organizations
• coordinates requests for specific aboriginal services and programs
• offers workshops on many subjects: cultural awareness, empowerment, goal-setting, money-management, assertiveness, anger management, and family and community relations.

Call the Aboriginal Resource Centre at 604-702-2615:

Aboriginal Access Coordinator: Shirley Hardman (As of August 15, 2002)