Meet your šxʷta:təχʷəm advisors for the 2024W session.
Annelie
Pronouns: Any pronouns – She/They/He
Taanishi Kiiyawow! Annelie dishinihkaashoon. I am Red River Métis from Treaty 1 territory on my mothers side and Scottish settler on my fathers side. I grew up on unceded Semiahmoo territory and currently live on unceded Musqueam territory. I am in my 5th year studying First Nations and Indigenous Studies.
A fun fact about me is I’ve starred in a student short film!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
I have had the privilege of being a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor for two years now, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity. My favourite part about being an advisor is being part of the šxʷta:təχʷəm community and hosting the weekly beading circle. It has been such an honour to see students’ skill levels improve, and in turn, I have become more confident in both my beading and teaching skills. Being an advisor has been a great experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Avery
Pronouns: She/Her
Hello, I’m Avery! My home is Temagami First Nation in Northern Ontario. I have journeyed to Vancouver and find myself as a 3rd year student in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.
Fun Fact: I love skiing!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
I would like to thank the Musqueam Nation for allowing me to learn, live, and work on their territory. When the opportunity to become a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor arose, I knew it was a role I wanted to pursue. šxʷta:təχʷəm has always been a welcoming place in my academic journey, so being involved was an amazing opportunity. Throughout my time in this role, I have met many new friends, fellow students, and staff, and gained deeper insights into student life and the role of Indigeneity in academia. The programs, activities, and learning sessions offered during my time here have shaped my UBC journey for the better and will have lasting impact on me. Thank you, First Nations House of Learning!
Hannah
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hello! My name is Hannah. I am currently living on the ancestral territories of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō) and sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie) people. I am of mixed European and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw ancestry. I am entering my 4th year at UBC, in the faculty of science, studying neuroscience.
A fun fact about myself is that I am full of random neuroscience facts and science puns!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
Being an advisor this year has truly been a gift. I met people I otherwise would have never interacted with, had experiences that completely changed my time at UBC, and am incredibly grateful for everyone I met and the friends I made. It was super cool to see students attending and enjoying events that I created, and it was so rewarding to watch my visions come to fruition. I will absolutely be back next year, whether as an advisor again or just visiting as a student!
Iktome
Pronouns: He/They
My name is Iktome, which means spider in my language. I am from the Alexis Nakota Sioux nation as well as the Penobscot nation. I am a fourth year kinesiology student and returning for a 2nd year at the collegia.
I am very excited to continue this journey and look forward to the 2024/25 year!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
Becoming an advisor has been one of the best decisions I have made during my time at UBC. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many incredible Indigenous kin who have made my journey away from home to school significantly easier. This is my second year as an advisor, and being among such a profoundly impactful community will be tough to leave—but making space for new advisors means a larger community. Please make the easy decision to apply, and I’ll see you next year. Ishnish (thank you)!
Jazmine
Pronouns: She/Her
K̓alhwá7acw (hello)! My name is Jazmine and my pronouns are she/her. I’m Deer Clan from the Lil̓wat Nation. I grew up in Mount Currie, B.C. and my Ucwalmícwts name is Ts̓qáxa7. I’m also proud to be Sinhalese from Sri Lanka.
I’m in my second year of a Bachelor of Arts program majoring in Indigenous Studies. I play intramural soccer and a member of the CiTR radio show, Unceded Airwaves, located on campus. I’m so excited to be one of the šxʷta:təχʷəm advisors this year.
Feel free to say hi anytime :)
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to be one of the šxʷta:təχʷəm advisors this year. I have learned so much from each person in the space and am grateful to have a safe place where we can be ourselves and express our Indigeneity. One of my favourite aspects of being an advisor has been being part of the weekly drum circle. Gathering with relatives to share songs and good medicines is a big part of how I feel community. Because of this, and for many other reasons, I’d say that šxʷta:təχʷəm really does feel like a home away from home!
Jessica
Pronouns: She/Her
tânisi kahkiyaw! My name is Jess. I’m nehiyaw from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (Treaty 8) on my mom’s side and Scottish and English on my dad’s. I’m currently in my fourth year studying Speech Sciences and First Nations Endangered Languages.
I’m looking forward to learning together and building supportive communities that empower diverse voices, and I am actively learning nêhiyawêwin and hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. I’m also a certified esthetician and I am passionate about preserving our cultural heritage while promoting overall well-being.
If you’re curious about skincare, wellness, or languages, let’s chat!
kahkiyaw niwâhkômâkanak
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
I am so grateful that I took the chance to become an advisor and play a more active role in this amazing community. Meeting so many wonderful people and learning from each of them has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve found planning events especially fulfilling, as it offers endless opportunities to foster meaningful connections. If you’re looking to be part of something impactful, I recommend giving it a try next year!
Josiah
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Gilakas’la! My name is Josiah. I come from the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw nation located in Port Hardy, BC with ancestral ties to Smith Inlet, BC. I currently live in the Oakridge area of Vancouver and have been a guest on the unceded and ancestral lands of the tri-nations due to displacement my entire life. I am in the Faculty of Arts with 3rd year standing but in my 4th year at UBC, majoring in Human Geography.
Fun fact about me is I LOVE to cook!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
As a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor, I have learned and adapted in ways that no other role at UBC could offer. This position has allowed me to thrive, find my place, engage with peers, and overall improve my outlook on both the world and my studies. The ability to lead programs that resonate with participants, thrive through creativity, and hone my skills to support fellow students is an excellent way to connect with others and something I will always cherish about this space and position. Being a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor is an opportunity you won’t want to miss, as it allows you to engage with the University in the best way possible—with and for Indigenous people.
Kiizh
Pronouns: She/They
Aaniin – My name is Kiizh. I use she/they pronouns. I am Anishinaabe from Turtle Mountain and Onigaming. I’m a 4th year Anthropology major. I like to sketch, paint, bead, and read. I also like to powwow dance and do both jingle and fancy.
I’m looking forward to meeting everyone at šxʷta:təχʷəm this year!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
Being both a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor and community member has been integral to my experience at UBC. In my role as an advisor, I have developed leadership and event planning skills, grown culturally and academically, and made lasting friendships. As an Indigenous student on campus, it is important to have spaces where we are understood, cared for, and listened to—and šxʷta:təχʷəm is that place for me and many others.
Myah
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hello! My name is Myah. I am Sto:lo First Nations and have lived in British Columbia my entire life. I am in my third year in the Faculty of Arts. I enjoy baking despite not being very good at it :)
I am so looking forward to the 2024/2025 academic year.
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
Being an advisor at šxʷta:təχʷəm has given me the opportunity to connect more deeply with my culture, share knowledge, and learn from others in the space. Some of my key takeaways as an advisor include how to foster resilience and build a culturally safe community for all Indigenous students using the space. When I look back on my first year at UBC, I remember the positive impact that šxʷta:təχʷəm had in making me feel a sense of community and belonging. During my time as an advisor, I aimed to create that same sense of community and belonging for other students in the space. There are many memories, skills learned, and experiences from this role that I am thankful for and will carry with me.
Niigonii
Pronouns: He/Him/His
My name is Niigonii and I am a third year Arts major studying Geography. I am Ojibwe from the Chippewe of the Thames First Nations.
An interesting fact about me is I like to yo-yo!
My experience as a šxʷta:təχʷəm advisor
Working and spending the year in šxʷta:təχʷəm has been an incredible experience, offering me opportunities and safe spaces to connect with my culture and the diverse Indigenous cultures within our Indigenous student community at UBC. I always look forward to being in a space where I can be my true self and express myself freely, thanks to the support of fellow advisors and the students who make it so welcoming and enriching. As I continue my journey, I will forever cherish my time in šxʷta:təχʷəm and the strong sense of community we have built there. Miigwetch!
Updated: March 20, 2025