OCNews

Articles tagged "Indigenous Services"

WFN Chief Robert Louis and OC President Neil Fassina sign an updated Memorandum of Understanding.
Westbank First Nation and Okanagan College sign updated MOU

October 30, 2023

Okanagan College and Westbank First Nation (WFN) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding continuing a long partnership which aims to strengthen the recruitment, mentorship and retention of Syilx learners at Okanagan College.  The MOU lays out the objectives and principles of a partnership that will help guide the College to embrace the spirit and intent of reconciliation and ensure culturally appropriate, meaningful, and quality education and skills training opportunities for WFN learners.  Chief Robert Louie, Westbank First Nation, a...

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Indigenous stoles
Convocation stoles featuring Syilx, Secwepemc pictographs honour graduates

June 20, 2022

As Canadians prepare to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Okanagan College is recognizing Indigenous graduates in a new and special way. This year for the first time, Indigenous students who cross the stage at OC convocation and commencement ceremonies are being gifted with a specially designed convocation stole, embroidered with Syilx and Secwepemc pictographs. “On National Indigenous Peoples Day and every day, it is critically important that we remember and appreciate the privilege it is to live, work and play on the beauti...

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OC 'Sticks Up' Indigenous Student Award
OC ‘Sticks Up’ for Indigenous Student Awards

April 13, 2022

OC Indigenous Services and the OC Foundation have teamed up for the annual ‘Sticks Up’ campaign. They are excited to launch this fundraiser for the NHL’s 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the OC ‘Sticks Up’ for Indigenous Students Award. Yvonne Oppenheimer and Erica Seymour were the inaugural recipients of the OC ‘Sticks Up’ for Indigenous Students Award. The Awards are available to students with Indigenous ancestry who are enrolled in full-time study in any degree, diploma, or certificate program ...

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United Against Violence Against Women Online Candlelight Vigil
OC joins Vernon and Salmon Arm communities to hold vigil against violence against women

December 1, 2020

Many activities stopped as a result of the 2020 pandemic. Violence against women, however, is not one of them. This is why communities in the Okanagan and Shuswap are paying special attention to the 31st anniversary of the École Polytechnique Massacre, in addition to the ongoing cases of missing women from the region, with a Virtual Candlelight Vigil on Dec. 6 co-hosted by a network of organizations and volunteers. “The SAFE Society has been partnering with Okanagan College Students’ Union and Aboriginal Services for over a decade to offer ...

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2019 Powwow
OC’s 12th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow goes virtual this year

September 29, 2020

When the pandemic struck, organizers of the popular Youth Exhibition Powwow at Okanagan College in Kelowna knew they would have to adapt. Each year, for the past 11 years, the event has drawn crowds of hundreds – sometimes more than a thousand – to OC’s courtyard for a day of celebrating, learning about and engaging with Indigenous knowledge and culture. Over the course of a fun-filled day, dancers and accompanying drummers from across the B.C. interior perform in a variety of dance categories including grass, fancy, chicken, jingle and tra...

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K’nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən features a path through plants that are significant to Indigenous Syilx people of the Okanagan.
K’nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən garden

June 1, 2020

Stepping along the bark mulch path of K’nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən, navigating through the dense brush of salmon berry and olive trees, visitors get a rare opportunity to step into a space filled with traditional plants significant to Syilx Okanagan people. K’nmaĺka? Sənqâĺtən (Kalamalka Garden) is an Indigenous garden created in 2017 through a unique collaboration among the Okanagan Indian Band (Elders and community members), Okanagan College and the Food Action Society of the North Okanag...

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Bannock is a staple during potlucks at the Gathering Place
The Gathering Place

April 30, 2020

The moment you walk through the doors to the Gathering Place, everything seems to change: the light softens, the noise of the day fades away, and you are most likely greeted by a friendly face. Caroline Chartier is the Aboriginal Transitions Planner at the Salmon Arm campus, and OC Life caught up with her to get the scoop on what makes the Gathering Place so special. Q: What was intent behind the Gathering Place when it was created? A: To provide a space for Aboriginal students th...

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Story poles visible in Kelowna's na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden.
na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden

April 15, 2020

Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus is home to a traditional garden established in 2017 to celebrate and recognize the rich history and knowledge of the Indigenous people of the region.  The name na’ʔk’ʷulamən generally translates to “the things that we do.” This reflects things that Indigenous people do with plants and the land, including maintenance of the land; selection and use of plants for food, technology, medicines and for ceremonial purposes; and the sharing of this knowledg...

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Office Administration student, Melissa Roque
Specialized Training Offered by Lillooet Tribal Council and Okanagan College

March 26, 2020

The Community Adult Learning Centre in Lillooet, B.C., recently partnered with Okanagan College to offer the Introduction to Office Administration training program, a fast-track program designed to build essential office skills necessary to job readiness in the field. Community consultation and local job vacancies highlighted a need for office administration. Yvonne LaRochelle, manager for the Community Adult Learning Centre, set out to close the gap between those in need of work and the office administration jobs available in her communit...

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James Coble earns his doctoral degree
Coble earns doctoral degree, shines light on Indigenous students’ post-secondary experiences

February 11, 2020

When James Coble crossed the stage to pick up his doctoral degree from the University of Calgary he was overcome with many emotions. But for Okanagan College’s Director of Student Services and father of two, there was no emotion greater than the pride of setting a positive example for his children. “For me, it was the completion of a seven-year journey,” explains Coble. “At the end, as I did at every stage, I reminded myself that my kids were always at the top of the list of reasons why I was doing this.” Coble graduated with a Doctor of Ed...

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