IN/Relation: Educational Resources for International Students Learning Indigenous Contexts and Histories at UBC is a TLEF-funded project to increase for Indigenous engagement for international learners, and develop intercultural understanding and respect.
This project builds from research conducted by CTLT Indigenous Initiatives. Some background on this project can be found here and here.
Over the summer, we began developing the content for the first two IN/Relation learning modules. Special thanks to our colleagues in CTLT Indigenous Initiatives, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, Global Campus Initiatives, St. John’s College, and First Nations and Indigenous Studies who provided us with feedback and suggestions that shaped modules 1 and 2!
We adapted and piloted some of these materials, working in close collaboration with facilitators from Global Campus Initiatives and St John’s College, at a graduate student orientation session attended by over 20 international students, many of whom are Mastercard Foundation Scholars. We were privileged that Elder Larry Grant joined us to open the orientation and welcome the scholars to unceded Musqueam lands.
This fall, two new staff joined our team, and we will continue to pilot modules 1 and 2 in courses, focus on developing the IN/Relation facilitator’s guide, and conduct focus groups with different audiences including undergraduate students, graduate students, international students, and faculty/staff.
A few focus groups are still upcoming at the end of October and the beginning of November. For more information on the focus groups or if you would like to join us at a focus group and contribute your perspective to this project, email ii.gaa@ubc.ca.
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We asked the two newest members to our team, Sophie Duncan and Julia Poissant, a couple of questions to introduce themselves. All of our bios can be found here.
Julia Poissant, Student Project Assistant, IN/Relation project. Photo by Abigail Saxton
Three fun facts about Julia:
I have a black belt in Shotokan karate, which I started at UBC.
I have participated several times in the Vancouver debate comedy show Geeks vs Nerds.
I find hairless cats adorable.
What are some of the things you have started working on in your new role? And what are some areas you are looking forward to exploring?
I have participated in several classroom visits to take notes on students’ thoughts and opinions regarding existing Indigenous information resources and how students should prepare to visit the The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. I am looking forward to exploring the grant application process and reviewing the information gained through the focus groups.
What excites you about joining this team/working on this project?
I am grateful for the opportunity to work on an amazing project that will create a pathway for students to learn more Indigenous histories and perspectives at UBC. For my own knowledge, I am really interested in seeing in practice how research and community consultation can drive building solutions to identified needs.
Sophie Duncan, Graduate Academic Assistant, IN/Relation project.
Photo by Abigail Saxton
Three fun facts about Sophie:
Ice cream is my favorite food 😍
The squid emoji is my favorite 🐙
I want to pet ALL the dogs 🐶
What are some of the things you have started working on in your new role? And what are some areas you are looking forward to exploring?
I have jumped right in to supporting the IN/Relation project which involves building resources for international students about learning on unceded land. We currently are hosting focus groups to get ideas for these resources and feedback on already existing drafts. I am so excited for the iterative process of integrating what we learn in the focus groups into the modules we are building.
What excites you about joining this team/working on this project?
I feel so excited to be a part of the IN/Relation team. Indigenous Initiatives has transformed my relationship to learning and teaching since I have been at UBC so it is super meaningful that I get to now contribute to a project that has taught me so much. As an international student I am looking forward to building concrete tools that facilitate engagement with the specific context for learning at UBC.
Liz Otero continues to work with us on IN/Relation as a Graduate Academic Assistant. Read Liz’s interview from last year here.