Roots: Indigenous Partnered Research Circle
Reconciliation Pole, Hereditary Chief 7idansuu (James Hart), Haida. Image credit: Hover Collective / UBC Brand & Marketing
Land Acknowledgement & Commitment
The Roots Circle takes place on the unceded and traditional territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, who have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial.
This is more than an acknowledgement of the original stewards of this place, known as xʷməθkʷəy̓əm – place of the məθkʷəy̓, but a commitment from us, as people who live uninvited on this territory, to uphold the rights of the Musqueam Nation, and to continuously advocate for the Musqueam people in our places of work, study, and in our day to day lives.
We extend this commitment to our Host Nations across what is now known as “Vancouver,” the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and to the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Turtle Island.
Our Vision
A decolonized space, rooted in ceremony, that builds capacity at UBC for researchers to engage in meaningful, appropriate, and relational partnerships with Indigenous communities, collectives, and organizations.
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 circles 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 a decolonized 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 a Faculty of Medicine 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 an opening circle, speaker presentations, an activity, and a shared lunch. Since then, we have hosted another three Roots Circles, and have been developing a research cluster alongside this work. We are excited to continue hosting circles over the coming months and years!
