Archive for category: UVSS Statements

Statement for National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

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September 30 is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. It is also Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters. It is a day of remembrance for the lives lost, those who survived residential schools across this country and the lasting harm caused by them and other similar colonial policies. This day is supposed to be uncomfortable, as this history is uncomfortable and unlivable for many Indigenous people. No set of words can undo the harm, but we offer them with humility and a commitment to listen, learn, and act, so that there is less cause for suffering in future generations.

This day was started in 2013 as Orange Shirt Day when Elder Physllis Webstad, a residential school survivor from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, shared her story of picking out an orange shirt to wear to her first day of school. “Her bright orange shirt symbolized love, excitement, and belonging. When it was taken away, it represented how the system tried to strip away identity, culture, and the fundamental truth that Every Child Matters.”1 The colour orange always reminded her of this incident, and made her feel as though her wellbeing and feelings did not matter. Today we wear orange shirts with the phrase “Every Child Matters” to honour residential school survivors, and to remind them they matter.

The UVSS and the University of Victoria operate on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) and territories of importance to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. We are continually grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, and work on these lands and understand that we have a long process of reconciliation ahead of us with the duty to uplift Indigenous people and help educate people on the uncomfortable past that Indigenous people lived through.

The UVSS has the responsibility to create a campus where Indigenous students, staff, and community members are safe, respected, and supported. The UVSS also has the responsibility to fight against the discriminatory and oppressive histories and structures that have shaped our educational institutions and harmed many Indigenous people. These are responsibilities we do not take lightly, as it’s our way to advance truth and reconciliation in a meaningful way for our members.

We encourage everyone to reflect, learn more about residential schools, and support Indigenous-led organizations and student groups. You can do so by wearing orange or reading a survivor’s testimony. We encourage reflecting on your cultural, social, and historical ties to the land, how you may have directly or indirectly benefited from the oppressive history of this country and what role you have in advancing truth and reconciliation.

Finally, to all of our Indigenous students and community members: we see you, we hear you, and we are committed to ensuring that your place at UVic is one marked by dignity and respect. The UVSS will continue to listen, to act, and to be held accountable by all of those we serve, for the good of all students.

In solidarity,
The UVSS Board of Directors

Resources for Indigenous community members:

Though today is in many ways a celebration of Indigenous resurgence, all feelings are valid. Remember to walk gently and take care of your body, mind, spirit, and heart however you need to. Please seek support, if needed, from the list below.

Support Indigenous students on campus 

Support local Indigenous Businesses 

Educational Resources

Interactive map resources:

 Watch:

Read:

Podcasts:

Events

For all of the UVic-supported community events for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt day, view this webpage: 

https://www.uvic.ca/event/orange-shirt-day/index.php

South Island Powwow by Songhees Nation: 

https://www.songheesnation.ca/south-island-powwow

1.Orange Shirt Society. (2026, September 21). Orange Shirt Day – Orange Shirt Society. https://orangeshirtday.org/about/orange-shirt-day/

https://uvss.ca/2025/09/25/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-statement-2025/

https://uvss.ca/2024/09/27/national-day-of-truth-and-reconciliation-2024/

https://uvss.ca/2023/09/29/uvss-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-statement/

https://uvss.ca/2022/09/29/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-statement/

https://uvss.ca/2021/09/29/uvss-statement-on-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation/

National Indigenous Peoples Day Statement

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June is National Indigenous History Month, and today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day to recognize and celebrate the communities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Turtle Island, each with their own distinct heritage, ancestry, language, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. We celebrate these communities and their rich, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions.

The UVSS would like to honour and raise our hands to the Xʷsepsəm, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose unceded territories we live, play, and learn on. We acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples who have historically cared for and sustained relationships with these lands since time immemorial. 

The UVSS and university stands on land that was taken care of by a Lekwungen family, known as the Cheko’nein1. Before contact, the UVic Quad was a camas field, where the purple flowers nourished both the community and the local ecosystem. Colonization of these lands began in 1842, when Sir James Douglas arrived by ship at Cadboro Bay. By 1855, with the purpose of stealing this land from its Indigenous peoples, the Douglas Treaties were created1,2.

The Douglas Treaties are one example of many of how Indigenous peoples within so-called ‘Canada’ have been forcibly removed from their territories. Additional efforts to assimilate and erase Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island continued for a century through residential schools, Indian hospitals, the 60s scoop, birth alerts, and an epidemic of murdered and missing Indigenous women and two-spirit people. 

Unfortunately, today’s political climate means Indigenous rights are still at risk. This past December, the Gitxaala First Nation won a landmark court case against the Province3 using the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA)4. The Supreme Court decided that corporations are no longer able to mine on Indigenous land without prior and informed consent3. After the Gitxaala case, the Province has threatened to appeal or amend parts of the DRIPA Act5. 

So what does this mean? What can we do? We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that decolonization and reconciliation are everyone’s responsibility. We encourage everyone to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Month, and to continue learning about the unsurrendered lands we stand on. We also encourage you to be allies, to speak out against injustice, and support ongoing efforts led by Indigenous peoples. 

Looking for a place to start? Check out these resources: 

Resources for Indigenous community members:

Though today is in many ways a celebration of Indigenous resurgence, all feelings are valid. Remember to walk gently and take care of your body, mind, spirit, and heart however you need to. Please seek support, if needed, from the list below.

Support Indigenous students on campus 

Support local Indigenous Businesses 

Education and Resources 

Interactive map resources:

 Watch:

Read:

Podcasts:

References 

  1. Benesh K, Joseph L, MacMillan J, Mordini E, Warbeck L, Wooldridge R. Lekwungen Housepost Garden Ecological Restoration Plan 2008. Published online 2008.
  2. Canada; G of CCIR and NA. Treaty Texts – Douglas Treaties. November 3, 2008. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100029052/1581515763202
  3. Tyee  readers like you C here to support T. The Gitxaala Nation Is Suing the Province Over Mining Claims. The Tyee. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/10/26/Gitxaala-Nation-Suing-Province-Mining-Claims/
  4. Declaration Act. FNLC – First Nations Leadership Council. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://www.fnlc.ca/declaration-act/
  5. David Eby’s Abandonment of Human Rights Betrays His Own Government | British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. April 13, 2026. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://www.bcafn.ca/news/in-the-news/david-ebys-abandonment-human-rights-betrays-his-own-government

Celebrating Pride Month

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Celebrating Pride Month

It’s the time of the year to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and reflect on the past and present struggles.

While progress has been made, recent years have seen a rise in anti-trans and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric and legislation across Canada, the United States, and around the world. Trans people, especially trans youth and trans women of colour, continue to face disproportionate levels of discrimination, loss of medical care, political scapegoating, and violence, including murder. Recently, governmental political statements and bills in the US and the UK have threatened trans folk’s ability to safely live and exist in public and have posited trans people as enemies of the state. As such, these attacks are deeply concerning. They impact us all, as trans people continue to immigrate to safer US states, to Canada, and even to the UVic campus.

However, these are also reminders of why Pride continues to matter, as a commitment to stand beside one another and defend the rights, safety, and dignity of everyone. It’s important to recognize that the ability to live openly, love freely, and find community has never come without struggle. From the first drag queen in the 1880s who fought for the right to assemble to the Stonewall riots in 1969, led by some of the most marginalized within the community (specifically Black and Brown trans women and butch/gender non-conforming lesbians). While not the first or only resistance against discrimination, it marked the beginning of Pride.

Following the Stonewall riots, there were gay rights groups all across the world working to fight for a better life through struggles that disproportionately affected them such as criminalization, police violence, workplace discrimination, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The rights and protections many people benefit from today were not freely given, but won through decades of protest, organizing, and community care. Pride has always been intersectional. As activist and community organizer Marsha P. Johnson said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” The fight for queer and trans liberation has always been connected to broader struggles against racism, colonialism, ableism, misogyny, and economic inequality.

While we have come a long way and have reason to celebrate, we still have work ahead of us. This Pride month, we encourage everyone to celebrate and support local Pride events with the UVSS Pride Collective and other community organizations, and continue showing up for one another as advocates and allies. Learn more about the history that came before and the rights people are still fighting for today with the resources linked below.

Happy Pride,

UVSS Board of Directors

Resources / Events:

Notable Quotes:

“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us”

Quote from Marsha P. Johnson, a notable Queer and Trans Black Woman, activist, and community organizer.

“Social protest is to say that we do not have to live this way. If we feel deeply, as we encourage ourselves and others to feel deeply, we will, within that feeling, once we recognize we can feel deeply, we can love deeply, we can feel joy, then we will demand that all parts of our lives produce that kind of joy. And when they do not, we will ask, “why don’t they?” And it is the asking that will lead us inevitably toward change.”

Quote from Sister Outsider: Essay and Speeches by Audre Lorde, a famous Black Lesbian poet, author, and scholar

UVSS Statement on Proposed Changes to the Academic Integrity Policy

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Dear UVic Community,

On May 8th, the UVic Senate will be voting on changes to the Academic Integrity Policy in response to generative AI. We understand the hard work and time UVic has put into these changes and know about the need to uphold academic integrity. However, the presented policy poses increased risk for students while weakening key protections.

The proposed policy updates fail to protect students who rely on accessibility accommodations like text-to-speech or screen reading software. With the proposed updates, using these tools could be considered unauthorized sharing of course materials, exposing students to academic integrity violations for simply using tools that they need to engage with their courses. This creates a disproportionate risk for students with disabilities that goes against the equity plan that UVic has committed to.

The proposed updates to this policy also put too much responsibility on the decision maker. They must decide whether it is more likely than not that a violation occurred (in other words, 51%). This level of proof, combined with no explicit banning of AI detection software, leaves all students vulnerable to high levels of risk or false positives. This risk is elevated for multilingual and neurodivergent writers who make up a significant portion of the student body. Therefore, AI detection tools must be explicitly banned in policy to protect our students from false reports.

Furthermore, the explicit expansion of including alumni under this policy leaves students open to serious harm. This means that graduated students can still be punished long after they have graduated, when they may no longer have access to materials needed to defend themselves.

This will be the second time this policy is being brought to the Senate to vote on, where it was originally sent back for adjustments that have not been made. We understand the University’s desire to have a strong Academic Integrity Policy for the beginning of the Fall term, to ensure first years, newly enrolled, and incoming students have a clear understanding of how AI can and can’t be used. However, this policy update needs to consider all students and the unintended harm it could cause. We ask that all senators take further amendments into consideration, and listen to the voices of the students who will be impacted by these updates.

Sincerely,
UVSS Lead Directors
Matthew, Maddy, Tam, Mariah, and Mohan

Further Readings on AI Detection Software Impact & Reliability:

Angelier, V. (2026). The Pitfalls of AI Detection in Academic Writing Bias, False Positives, and the Need for Inclusive Assessment. False Positives, and the Need for Inclusive Assessment (March 06, 2026).

Deep, P. D., Edgington, W. D., Ghosh, N., & Rahaman, M. S. (2025). Evaluating the Effectiveness and Ethical Implications of AI Detection Tools in Higher Education. Information, 16(10), 905.

Hadra, M., Cambridge, K. & Mesbah, M. (2026). Evaluating the accuracy and reliability of AI content detectors in academic contexts. Int J Educ Integr 22,(4). 

Rafiq, S., & Qurat-ul-Ain, D.A.A. The role of AI detection tools in upholding academic integrity: An evaluation of their effectiveness. (2025). Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 901-915.

Response to Recent Board Meeting Events

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Dear UVSS Members,

In a recent UVSS Board Meeting, a member of the Board tried to pre-emptively bar a student from speaking during question period. This student attended the board meeting to inquire about proper conduct when interacting with students, specifically in relation to a concerning and hostile interaction with a member of the Board. Due to the behaviour of the board member towards the student, we want to formally apologize.

We would like to reaffirm that all UVSS members have a right to attend board meetings and ask questions during the designated question period without fear of harassment. As per our Safer Spaces Policy, we have a commitment to fostering a safe and respectful environment.

The behaviour that was committed is unacceptable. Any elected representative of the UVSS student body has a duty to listen to students concerns regarding UVSS business and maintain proper conduct, regardless of their personal opinions.

The Board recognizes that these actions and behaviour may dissuade students from attending and speaking up during question period. We want you to know that question period is a safe space for you to speak to your representatives, and we are committed to upholding a welcoming and safe environment for all students.

We also know that some people may not feel comfortable speaking during question period, in which case we encourage you to submit your questions to Advocacy Group representatives, UVSS excluded management, or any board member you feel comfortable with to speak on your behalf. If you are concerned about decisions that have been made or need an independent party to speak to, we encourage you to speak to the Ombudsperson.

We recognize our mistakes and are committed to ensuring this type of behaviour does not happen again. Going forward, we will continue to create safe places for all students, where they can share their voice with their student society.

Sincerely,

UVSS Board of Directors

Resources

Ombudsperson

Contact: ombudsperson@uvic.ca

Advocacy groups and their representatives on the board

NSU Firekeeper: firekeeper@uvicnsu.ca

SOCC representative: soccrep@uvss.ca

GEM representative: gemrep@uvss.ca

SSD representative: ssdrep@uvic.ca

Pride representative: priderep@uvss.ca

UVSS contact page

Contact the UVSS: https://uvss.ca/contact-us/

International Women’s Day Statement 2026

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International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day of commemoration, resistance, and collective action rooted in feminist labour strikes and socialist feminist organizing. First observed in 1911, this day is a reminder that gender equity has always been fought for—never freely given.

Today, IWD continues calling us to action. This day asks us to remember the women, trans, Two-Spirit, gender diverse, and gender non-conforming people who organized before us, and to recognize the ongoing struggle against patriarchy, racism, colonialism, and other systems of oppression.

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements, and it also aims to end gender-based violence, raise awareness about discrimination, and encourage people to take action to forge gender parity. International Women’s Day raises awareness for all gender identities, and pushes the question of how to gain gender equity and equality.

Womanhood is not a singular or universal experience. Gender is lived differently across race, class, disability, sexuality, migration status, and experiences of colonialism. We recognize the hardships that people have had to face, and their lives and labour which have historically been marginalized, and whose organizing continues to push justice forward. And above all else, we celebrate the joy that people have found and the many different meanings behind what it means to be a woman.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Give to Gain. This means giving women access to resources, support, and opportunities for advancement. Equal access for all, whether it be education, resources, or beyond, is the only way we can begin to create a gender equitable world.

As university students, we have the unique opportunity of being in the centre for advocacy movements like these. The Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM), an advocacy group in the UVSS, works to be a strong intersectional voice on campus to further gender parity and to help individuals trying to find it. We encourage you to visit their webpage to learn more, or to stop by the GEM in room B107 inside the Student Union Building.

Though we have seen a lot of change since 1911, women and gender diverse people across the globe still face discrimination. Whether it’s the right to safe work, to education, to vote—many people internationally are not given the freedoms they deserve. While we can acknowledge and be thankful for the work that’s been done, we must strive for gender equity and continue to fight against institutions that limit women’s and gender diverse people’s rights.

While we take today to celebrate, commemorate, and recognize the achievements of women around the world, the efforts being made to get an equal world for all is a daily task. This International Women’s Day, go beyond recognition and move towards action. Learn about the labour movements and feminist organizers who continue to shape history. Support organizations
led by marginalized communities. Reflect on how you can challenge inequity within your own institutions and communities. The fight for gender justice requires more than celebration—it requires collective commitment.

Read more about this year’s theme and the history behind International Women’s Day on the International Women’s Day website.

Sincerely,

Your UVSS Board of Directors

Black History Month 2026 Statement

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February is Black History Month. During this time, we recognize, acknowledge, respect, and educate ourselves about the contributions and achievements of Black Canadians. We also take this time to reflect on the injustices carried out against Black Canadians, singularly as a result of their race. 

Announced by the government of Canada, this year’s theme is “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”  This theme resonates very strongly with us and speaks to values we at the UVSS seek to uphold. Though Black History Month has only been officially recognized in Canada for 30 years, the contributions of Black Canadians to Canada greatly surpasses these three decades. 

As students at the University of Victoria, this theme is especially poignant to us – we work alongside future leaders every day. We see the amazing work done by Black students, despite the systematic marginalization they often experience. Through Black History Month and beyond, we must work to amplify Black voices and experiences. Amazing groups like the Students of Colour Collective (SOCC) work tirelessly to further the interests of  Black students across our campus. We encourage all students, BIPOC or not, to engage with and support the work that they do. 

Despite ingrained systemic barriers that Black students face, Black students continue to excel and push the boundaries of education at UVic. In our university and beyond, Black students continue to succeed and set the standard in often discriminatory spaces where they are made to feel unwelcome.

It’s our job to educate ourselves on this important history, and to continue pursuing justice and recognition for Black Canadians. It is our obligation as the voices of the UVSS to promote and share the importance of Black History Month. We aim to empower our Black students to find joy and celebration in community, and hope that our non-Black students take responsibility to learn from and engage meaningfully with Black history.

Whether it’s by supporting local Black businesses, taking the time to learn about important Black Canadians who helped shape this country, or by attending events put on at UVic and throughout the community, take some time to reflect on Black History month and the impacts the Black community have made. We encourage you to check out the resources below, which feature local events and educational materials, and to look at your own community for ways you can engage with Black History Month. 

Resources:

Here are some upcoming events you can check out this Black History Month.

UVSS Events

Feb 2 – 6: Global Village

Global Village invites vendors, community organizations, and cultural ambassadors to bring cultures from around the world to life at UVic and is hosted by the Students of Colour Collective and the University of Victoria Students’ Society. 

Before the Rain Falls immersive exhibition 

Feb 4 & 5, 11am to 4pm, in the SUB Upper Lounge. Come and experience art, reflect and engage in discussions of migration, heritage, identity, memory and home with 5 student artist pieces.

Between Places, Between Belonging: A Panel 

Feb 4 from 2-4 p.m. in the SUB Upper Lounge

More than a seat at the table: Amplifying BIPOC Voices: Panel 

Feb 6 from 2-4 p.m. in the SUB Upper Lounge, featuring research from Gabrielle Warrior, UVic alumni and member of Scarborough Charter Steering Committee.

UVic events – 2026

Visit the Black History Month at UVic page for more details.

Feb 3 – Black History Month Panel – Faculty of Law

12:30 – 1:50 p.m. in Fraser B261
Join UVic Law’s Racial Justice Program for a panel discussion moderated by Assistant Professor of Law Andrew Luesley. The panel will explore the diversity of Black experiences in Canada, with attention to history, community, and institutional life.

Feb. 5 – Celebrate Black History Month with Food

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Come enjoy an African and Caribbean inspired meal at The Cove (Feast)! Offered by University Food Services in partnership with the Scarborough Charter Steering Committee. 

Feb. 6 – African Beading Workshop

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Student Life Hub (next to Mystic Market, Jamie Cassels Centre)
Learn about African beadwork traditions and create your own waist beads at this hands-on cultural celebration of African heritage.

Feb. 6 – Afro Beats night

6:00 p.m. at Vertigo, Student Union Building
This all ages event is presented by the Students of Colour Cooperative (SOCC).

Feb. 10 – Black Diaspora, Intellectual Life and the Current Academic Landscape

2:30 – 4:00 p.m. in the Engineering Computer Science Building, room 123
A public talk by Dr. Bright Gyamfi from Rutgers University.

BC Black History Awareness Society

Check out the BC Black History Society webpage for more upcoming events and resources.

Black History at the Shady Creek Church

For decades a Black History Month Celebration has taken place at the “Shady Creek Church”. The celebration includes a presentation by Karen Hoshal, a life-time BCBHAS member and a descendant of the Alexander Family who were instrumental in building the 1st church, later rebuilt at its current location; and a selection of songs by the choir.

Black History and Heritage Day

Take this opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history and meet with local organizations that are dedicated to the preservation of historical records related to Black history in BC; AND connect with Black-led organizations that celebrate and promote arts and culture through events, educational programs, and community activities.

Government of Canada

Noteworthy Figures

Read the biographies of some notable Black people in Canada who have helped shape Canadian heritage and identity, and who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to the wellbeing, and prosperity of our country.

Response to Disruptive Talk Happening on Campus

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On November 29th, the UVSS was made aware of an event that Frances Widdowson and Dallas Brodie have publicly stated that they will hold in front of the McPherson Library during the week of December 1, 2025. The UVSS does not have jurisdiction over this event and has no procedural authority to approve or cancel this event. The University administration has been notified of this event and the concerns raised by UVSS members. The publicly stated purpose of this event is to “hold a free speech discussion about the ‘unmarked graves claim.’” We have received a number of concerns from members of our community that this event may lend itself to residential school denialism.

Residential school denialism is more complex and nuanced than the outright denial of the existence of the Indian Residential School System (IRS). It is the rejection or misrepresentation of basic facts about the IRS in a way that undermines Truth and Reconciliation. Residential school denialism, at its core, asserts Indigenous deficiency and settler innocence. In an era of rampant misinformation and rising extremism, it is more important now than ever to take a strong stance against racism and colonialism and stand up for Truth and Reconciliation.

The UVSS remains dedicated to supporting an inclusive and safe environment for all its members and does not support or condone events which may harm the UVSS community. Information for resources to support those negatively impacted by this event can be found at the Office of Indigenous Affairs/Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement, the First Peoples House, and the Native Students Union.

Today and every day, the UVSS acknowledges that our campus resides on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Lək̓ʷəŋən people, including the Songhees, Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. The UVSS stands in solidarity with these groups and is committed to Truth and Reconciliation.

Sincerely,

UVSS Board of Directors

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Statement 2025

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On September 30, we observe and pay our respects for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a solemn day for many Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and community members, but also for the country as a whole. As we continue to learn and reconcile with our shared history, we acknowledge the grief, immense harm, and loss that survivors and their families continue to carry, and the forever unspoken testimony of those lost to residential schools and day schools. No set of words in any order can undo that harm, but we offer them with humility and a commitment to listen, learn, and act, so that there is less cause for suffering in future generations.

On this day, we honour the children taken and harmed by residential schools and day schools. We recognize the survivors who are burdened with the dreadful legacy of oppression, and we reflect on the ongoing impacts of Canada’s structures of injustice and shameful history of residential schools and discrimination. We also thank and acknowledge the contributions of Phyllis Webstad and the Orange Shirt day tradition that follows, and recognize the role it plays in truth and reconciliation.

We acknowledge that the University of Victoria and the UVSS operate on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) and territories of importance to the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. We are continually grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, and work on these lands and we offer this acknowledgement as one step among many in a long process of responsibility and improvement.

We reaffirm the UVSS’s responsibility to create a campus where Indigenous students, staff, and community members are safe, respected, and supported. We recognize that our commitment to strengthening relations and advancing understanding is modest compared with the work required to heal old and ugly wounds and establish real social trust, but we take our responsibility to the cause of truth and reconciliation seriously with each and every step.

It must also be said that discriminatory and oppressive histories and structures have shaped our educational institutions, and that genuine equity, equality, and correction requires ongoing attention and collective work. We have, and continue to, advocate for these issues and others to be addressed with the appropriate concern and passion that they deserve, as a part of our efforts to both scrutinize and collaborate with the University.

For individual members of our community, we encourage reflection and learning: wear orange if you feel called to do so, read survivor testimony, and support Indigenous-led organizations and student groups. We encourage those who have, through the complicated and often problematic social makeup of this country, directly or indirectly benefited from the oppressive histories of this country to reflect on their role in truth and reconciliation. We must learn how we can promote healing in our communities.

Finally, to all of our Indigenous students and community members: we see you, we hear you, and we are devoted to ensuring that your place at UVic is one marked by dignity and respect. The UVSS will continue to listen, to act, and to be held accountable by all of those we serve, for the good of all students. Thank you.

 

With respect, 

The UVSS Board of Directors

Educational Resources

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website: https://nctr.ca/ 

Information on the history and present of Orange Shirt Day: https://orangeshirtday.org

Events

For all of the UVic-supported community events for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt day, view this webpage: https://www.uvic.ca/event/orange-shirt-day/index.php

South Island Powwow by Songhees Nation: https://www.songheesnation.ca/south-island-powwow

Support Resources

Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Line

24-hour crisis line for survivors and family of survivors. Toll-Free: 1-866-925-4419

KUU-US Crisis Line Society

The KUU-US Crisis Line Society operates a 24-hour provincial Aboriginal crisis line for adults/Elders and youth.

Adults/Elders: 250-723-4050

Children/Youth: 250-723-2040

Toll-free Line: 1-800-588-8717

National Indigenous Peoples Day 2025 

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June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, as established in 1996 by the Governor General of Canada, as a time to commemorate and celebrate the long-standing traditions, cultures, and history of the various Indigenous nations that continue to live across the country. As we strive to do each day, we take redoubled effort to recall the millennia-old relationship between Indigenous peoples and the lands and waters we live and work upon today which have been stewarded by the lək̓ ʷəŋən peoples, including the Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations, and the W̱ SÁNEĆ peoples since time immemorial. We work to ensure that the dignity, rights, laws, and culture of all Indigenous peoples, and especially those of the local nations, are not only upheld but celebrated. 

This day falls on the summer solstice, the longest period of sunlight in the year. This day has long held tremendous cultural significance to many Indigenous nations as a time for celebrating heritage and community. The diversity and variety of identity, tradition, and way of life across the Indigenous peoples of Canada make it impossible and inappropriate to paint with a single brush, to say with any universal certainty what this day means to the populations that first called this land home. We can say, however, that this is a day of great meaning and importance to many of these peoples as a time to remember and find joy in the history, traditions, language, and intergenerational knowledge which defines their way of life. 

Delving into a topic such as this, it is important that we do not ignore the fact that this history is one marked and scarred by colonization and cultural oppression, and which carries a burden of loss and hardship to this day. Most recently, the legacy of Indigenous traditions has been considerably wounded by the residential and day “school” system of Canada, a government-created system which sought to eradicate Indigenous peoples, languages, and culture through forced assimilation, violence, and dispossession. The genocide of Indigenous peoples at the hands of the federal government through the residential and day “school” system resulted in the deaths of thousands of Indigenous children. The effects of these “schools”, the last of which closed only in 1997, is felt just as painfully today. 

The persistence of Indigenous culture today, though institutionally diminished, proves a spirit of resilience and perseverance, and nations across Canada continue to celebrate, perhaps most prominently today, their way of life. This is also a time to consider how we can advance the cause of reconciliation and decolonization, to contribute to a more just and free country for all of its citizens. It is necessary for those of us who practice traditions with more historical acceptance under colonial societies to recognize the privilege and comfort of living without such oppression, and to work alongside Indigenous peoples to promote equal freedoms for all. The UVSS will continue the work of ensuring the voice of Indigenous students are heard, and to resist discrimination and oppression on campus. 

More than anything, today is a day for joy and pride, for the rightful exercise of the freedom to live in the ways most true and meaningful to us, for the Indigenous peoples of this land to celebrate their history and look forward to the future. For as many generations as have held close these values commemorated today, we know that many generations on will too, that future generations will carry the sacred torch and pay tribute to their history as their ancestors have for thousands of years. For as much as these ways of life have been wounded, today, they stand strong. 

If you are looking to get involved with the celebrations or are seeking supports, please refer to the resources section at the end of this statement.

In Solidarity, 

The UVSS Board of Directors 

 

 

 

 

Resources 

Though today is in many ways a celebration of Indigenous resurgence, all feelings are valid. Remember to walk gently and take care of your body, mind, spirit, and heart however you need to. Please seek support, if needed, from the Indigenous counsellors at the UVic Student Wellness Centre by calling 250-721-8563, emailing the Indigenous Student Support Coordinators at IACE (iaceiss@uvic.ca) and OSL (oslisscreferrals@uvic.ca), emailing the Native Students Union Advocacy Councillor (advocacycouncillor@uvicnsu.ca), or calling the 24/7 Kuu-Us Crisis Line crisis line (1-800-588-8717).