September 11, 2025
The Faculty of Education’s Teacher Education Office (TEO) has introduced an innovative new Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) Project Assistant position—the first of its kind in the Bachelor of Education program. Kadence Cave, an Indigenous artist and NITEP student in her professional year, is the inaugural appointee, bringing her artistic talent, cultural knowledge, and wellness expertise to the role.
In collaboration with TEO Learning Design Manager Dr. Sonya Woloshen, Kadence will co-develop and review digital assets that embody Indigenous ways of knowing with cultural integrity and thoughtful intention. By digitizing her artwork, she will create lasting resources for future BEd students.
Drawing on her experience as a NITEP wellness facilitator, Kadence will also lead monthly workshops that embed Indigenous knowledge more deeply into the curriculum while fostering connection, resilience, and well-being among teacher candidates.
A Message from Kadence
Kadencexƛanugva. Haíɫzax̌vnugva. c̓úxvƛṃáqs Wilfred (Háɫq̓iaxa) du Sharron Martin. Hi gáyáqḷa qs ǧáǧṃ́pa Waglisla du Hi gáyáqḷa qs ǧáǧṃ́a tx̌s W̓uík̓inux̌v.
My name is Kadence Lea Sunflower Cave, a proud member of the Haíɫzaq (Heiltsuk) Nation. I am the granddaughter of Wilfred (the Blackfish) and Sharron Martin from Bella Bella, and I carry the lineage of my late grandmother from Rivers Inlet.
Today, I walk as a fourth-year NITEP student. The words I share come from the heart, though they can never fully capture my gratitude for the opportunities, the healing, and the happiness this UBC journey has brought me. I give thanks to those who lifted me, who looked beyond my smile and saw that I had more to give than I ever believed in myself. I honour my Papa, who has passed on, my Nana, and mother whose encouragement reminds me that my spirit is strong.
What excites me most about this new opportunity is the space we create together. Through visions of creativity, we see art. Art that carries story, emotion, care, and gratitude. Art that reflects our relationships: with the people, the land, and the spirits. My passion lives in the lines I draw, in the beads I place, the knots I tie, and in the pieces I paint.
This art is medicine; it is a connection, a place to pause from school, a remedy for our health, and for our healing. The power within these connections is what drives my empathy for students who feel silenced, weak, or alone. Students who need the connection of community to remind them of their unique identities, their strengths, and a reminder of what lies beneath their smile.
The community we build, hand in hand, peer to peer, is a shared responsibility. I am here to learn alongside you, and to bring what I can to support our journey. The space we create together is a source of healing and happiness, a gift that must be acknowledged as we do it together.
Ǧiáxsix̌anugvuƛa
(I thank you)
Kadence
