We deliver on our mandate to support Indigenous students and the broader Indigenous community on campus and beyond in a number of ways, which is summarized here.
Student Services
We provide the following Indigenous student services at the Longhouse, often in collaboration with other student service units:
- Accredited personal counsellors
- Accessibility advisor
- Biannual graduation celebrations
- Regular student-based communications
- Resource referrals
- Science program advisor
- Student financial advisor
- Student health nurse consultant
- Student meals
- Student spaces for studying, meeting up, relaxing, and social & cultural activities
- Tutoring sessions
- Wellness, social, and career development events
Events
Throughout the year, we partner with UBC departments, faculty, and units on different types of events for the UBC Indigenous community, the wider university community, and sometimes the general public. This often includes, but is not limited to:
- Major conferences
- Public lectures
- Cultural events
- Book releases
- Film screenings
- Graduation events
- Indigenous student, staff & faculty lunches
Visit Longhouse Events for current listings
Campus Engagement
We organize and partner with a number of units across campus to deliver ongoing supports and benefits to Indigenous students, staff and faculty, and occasionally the wider campus community. You are encouraged to learn about our various ongoing engagements by exploring our Campus Engagement page.
Visit Campus Engagement to learn more
Notable Initiatives
As part of fulfilling our mandate, we often lead or advise on the development of Indigenous initiatives at the Longhouse and across campus. Below is a list of notable initiatives our unit, through the visionary work of our directors and staff, either led or advised on over the past decade or more, up to the present:
- Developed the First Nations House of Learning’s website (2024)
- Co-led an assessment of Faculties’ Indigenous engagement activities and ISP readiness (2023)
- Organized various celebratory events and activities as part of the Longhouse’s 30th anniversary (2023)
- Led the construction of the Longhouse’s East Wing (2023)
- Partnered with UBC Brand and Marketing on development of the Guidelines for Respectful Image Usage (2023)
- Partnered with UBC Brand and Marketing on development of the Indigenous Peoples: Language Guidelines and subsequent versions (2021)
- Partnered with UBC Collegia on the development of the šxʷta:təχʷəm student space, formerly Indigenous Students Collegium (2020)
- Initiated and co-led the development of the Indigenous Strategic Plan (2020)
- Led the development of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (2018)
- Co-led the development of the University’s apology to Indian residential school survivors and Indigenous Peoples (2018)
- Advised on the development of CTLT Indigenous Initiatives, the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, and the Indigenous Research Support Initiative (2009-2018)
- Advised on the installation of the Reconciliation Pole, Musqueam Post, and Looplex X Canoe (2015-2017)
- Advised on the development of a UBC email signature recognizing Musqueam traditional territory (2016)
- Developed and maintained the Aboriginal Portal, later renamed the Indigenous Portal (2012)
- Led the development of the Aboriginal Strategic Plan, forerunner to the Indigenous Strategic Plan (2009)