Roots: Indigenous Partnered Research Circle
Reconciliation Pole, Hereditary Chief 7idansuu (James Hart), Haida. Image credit: Hover Collective / UBC Brand & Marketing
Land Acknowledgement
Roots would like to acknowledge that the land on which we work and gather is situated on the unceded, traditional, and occupied territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People, also known as the UBC Vancouver Campus
Our Vision
A Circle focused on building capacity at UBC to engage in meaningful, appropriate, and relational partnerships with Indigenous people, communities, and groups.
Our main area of focus at Roots is health and wellness, but we encourage all who are interested in engaging in a good way to partake in our Circle and initiatives. Our collective vision for the Roots Circle is to foster a lively and dynamic space that takes a grassroots approach to knowledge generation. Through collaborative efforts with its members, the Roots Circle will be co-created and thoughtfully tailored to accommodate the specific needs of those who take part.
Our Goals
Roots aims to:
✢ Facilitate mutual learning and mentorship
✢ Bring awareness to and honour Indigenous-led research
✢ Foster connections between students, staff, faculty, and Indigenous community members
✢ Recognize more appropriate criteria for evaluating Indigenous-led research for promotion and tenure
✢ Create space for thoughtful discussion
✢ Envision new ways of working together
Our Process
Roots was launched in the spring of 2024 as a pilot project out of the Faculty of Medicine Strategic Investment Funded project, Creating Structures for Meaningful Indigenous Community & UBC Health Partnerships. Our first in-person event brought together those actively engaged in, or those interested in participating in, partnerships with Indigenous communities. This day-long gathering featured speakers, an interactive activity, and a shared lunch. We are planning to continue the Roots pilot into the fall, and are exploring funding options to continue the Roots Circle long-term.
We look forward to hosting you again soon!