Indigenous initiatives

Equity, diversity, inclusion and indigeneity at ReMBC

ReMBC is eager to bring our offerings to Indigenous students, educators and communities. In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, it is important to us that we do this in a way that is culturally safe, relevant and meaningful for our Indigenous participants and partners.

Indigenous educators, schools, and organizations 

We welcome you to take advantage of all of our offerings! Our Indigenous Initiatives Manager, Ms. Angela Nash (Wəlastəkwewiyik), can assist you and answer your questions: angela.nash@ubc.ca 

Partner with ReMBC and receive funding to bring mentorship opportunities to rural Indigenous youth 

In 2023 ReMBC applied for – and was awarded! – three years of funding through UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Fund. Most of this funding is earmarked to go directly to the Indigenous communities, services and allies – like you! – who partner with us to develop mentoring initiatives for rural Indigenous youth. The ultimate goal of these mentoring initiatives is to inspire and support rural Indigenous students’ successful transition to post-secondary education, including facilitating opportunities for current post-secondary students to mentor and share knowledge with these students.

Funding goals  

It is important to us to ensure that our offerings are equitable and accessible for our Indigenous participants and that they are developed collaboratively with Indigenous communities, services, and allies. Moreover, we realize that your community has its own unique needs and desires, and we are eager to work on-on-one with you to meet your individual needs – whether that is modifying ReMBC’s existing offerings, or building something new. Ultimately, by bringing your vision of education through mentorship to life, we hope to form a lasting friendship with you and provide sustainable support so that your students can benefit from our shared creation for years to come.

Check out the First Nations Post-Secondary Students Factsheet, to learn about the education gaps faced by first nations students. Mentoring can play a key role in bridging these gaps and supporting their journey through post-secondary education.

What your involvement will look like 

  1. Tell us about your community’s needs and goals, and where you see youth mentorship fitting in.  
  2. Have a conversation with our team about how our current offerings do and do not meet these needs. If you wish, offer feedback and suggestions on how our offerings can be rebuilt or modified.  
  3. Provide collaborative input while our team redevelops/rebuilds the program in your vision. 
  4. Recruit students in your community to participate in the pilot of the new program, and offer feedback and suggestions.  

At the end, you will have a unique mentoring program designed specifically for the youth in your community. The ReMBC team will continue to support the program for as long as you wish (we hope forever!). 

See details below. 

Interested in partnering with us? 

Reach out to our Indigenous Initiatives Manager, Ms. Angela Nash (Wəlastəkwewiyik). She will chat with you about your interests and goals and answer your questions – no obligation required! angela.nash@ubc.ca

Partnership and funding details

Expand each item to learn more about partnership and funding details

Who is eligible to participate

Organizations or individuals who work with rural Indigenous students – including both high school and post-secondary students. Examples include: 

  • Indigenous student serving schools 
  • Indigenous student support workers, advisors or educators 
  • Community organizations or services that support Indigenous youth 
  • Community advocates or organizers who are interested in supporting Indigenous youth 
  • Post-secondary services for Indigenous students – especially those supporting student transitions to post-secondary education or health professions programs 

How funding can be used

Funding must be used to develop and implement mentorship opportunities for rural Indigenous students. This can include purchasing materials, hosting a gathering or event, or compensating participants for their feedback and time. All funding will be distributed in accordance with UBC’s Indigenous Finance Guidelines. 

Expectations 

Participants are expected to (at the very minimum): 

  • View or (preferably) try out our current offerings.  
  • Provide feedback and suggestions on our current offerings, including our program structure, delivery, activities, materials and training.  
  • Provide collaborative input as the ReMBC team redevelops – or rebuilds – the program in your vision. Choose the extent of your involvement in this process: it could be as little as answering any questions that the development team has, or as much as being an equal partner in the development process.  
  • Recruit students in your community to participate in the pilot of the new program. Offer feedback and suggestions.

These are the minimum requirements for participation. Participants are welcome to co-lead any of these processes. 

Rural eMentoring BC will assume the following responsibilities:

  • Facilitate student participation in the program. This includes providing materials, support, and being responsible for program implementation. This support will begin when students try out our current offerings, will continue as the students participate in the pilot program, and will last for as long as you decide to use the program thereafter. 
  • Oversee the feedback and development processes. We welcome your input on how these processes should go, including how feedback should be gathered. Moreover, our oversight is merely a suggestion intended to take the onus off of you and be mindful of your time – you are welcome to take as much ownership of this project as you would like! 
  • Provide regular updates, share data, findings, and resources, and provide documentation of all activities. This work is intended to be grounded in transparency and reciprocity. 
  • Provide funding for all activities related to the project, including implementation and compensating participants for their feedback. It is important to us that you benefit from this collaboration. 
  • Ensure our that Indigenous participants and partners feel welcome and safe throughout this process. We endeavour to be humble, grateful and respectful throughout our time together and beyond. We acknowledge that we might make mistakes and that we are still learning, and we appreciate all that you have to teach us.  

About our indigenous initiatives manager, Angela (she/her): Angela provides support for Indigenous students and mentors in the program. She ensures that our program is a safe and inclusive space for Indigenous participants and their communities. Angela is Wəlastəkwewiyik (Maliseet) from Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation) in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She has been involved with the program since 2019, bringing her vast knowledge of engagement, relationship building, and the “Two-Eyed Seeing” approach to research as well as intellectual property. She is an advocated for the underserved!