Alannah Young Awarded the UBC Faculty of Education 2025 Reconciliation & Decolonization Award

October 1, 2025

Dean Jan Hare is pleased to announce Alannah Young, MA’06, PhD’15 as the 2025 UBC Faculty of Education Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award recipient.

The award acknowledges extraordinary alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering decolonization efforts or reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples or communities, or who have inspired others to continue decolonization or reconciliation efforts. Learn more about the award and nomination process here.

Alannah Young, MA’06, PhD’15
2025 Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award recipient

Her work spans decades of leadership in decolonizing and reindigenizing education, health, and community across Turtle Island. At UBC, she serves as a Research Associate with the Centre for Indigenous Education, Research, and Wellness at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm and has guided students through the First Nations House of Learning, the Medicine Collective, and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and ceremonial leadership, Dr. Young has inspired generations of students, colleagues, and community members to engage in reconciliation and decolonization.

At UBC, Dr. Young serves as a Research Associate with the Centre for Indigenous Education, Research, and Wellness at xʷc̓ic̓əsəm, where she generates and applies Indigenous knowledge through land-based learning and community collaboration. She has guided students and colleagues through her work with the First Nations House of Learning, the Medicine Collective, the Culturally Relevant Urban Wellness program, and the FACULTY of Land and Food Systems. Beyond UBC, she has been a mentor, teacher, and knowledge keeper for youth, Elders, and communities, sharing traditional medicine practices, leading ceremonies, and fostering spaces of belonging and healing.

Dr. Young’s prolific academic contributions include more than 17 scholarly publications and ongoing work that continues to shape decolonial and reindigenizing approaches in education. She has inspired generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and colleagues to engage deeply in reconciliation, equity, and transformative education, leaving a profound and lasting impact on UBC and communities far beyond.

Learn more about Faculty of Education Alumni Awards.

Read more about the new initiative: The UBC Faculty of Education Indigenous Education Alumni Network.

Levente Mihalik Awarded the UBC Faculty of Education 2025 Alumni Educator of the Year Award

By tyemioke

Dean Jan Hare is delighted to announce that Levente Mihalik, BEd’18, MEd’24, has been selected as Alumni Educator of the Year by UBC Faculty of Education.

The Alumni Educator of the Year Award was created in 2012 to recognize outstanding achievements by UBC Faculty of Education alumni who are making exceptional impacts in the lives of their students and learning communities.

Levente Mihalik, BEd’18, MEd’24

2025 Alumni Educator of the Year

Levente Mihalik is an accomplished educator, award-winning filmmaker, and dedicated mentor whose work bridges education, media, and community impact. He has spent more than 15 years pioneering media education and empowering students to use storytelling as a tool for social change. Through his leadership in initiatives such as the Surrey School District’s Summer Film Academy and Young Moviemakers, Levente has guided students in producing award-winning films that have received international recognition. His pedagogical approach emphasizes media literacy, creativity, and student empowerment, enabling young people to see themselves as creators rather than consumers of media.

A strong advocate for inclusive education, Levente is known for his mentorship and his ability to build trust-based connections which has transformed the lives of countless students, fostering resilience, confidence, and pathways to both academic and professional success. Levente’s impact has been recognized widely, including being named to BC Business’s 30 Under 30. With a commitment to bridging classroom learning and professional opportunities, he continues to inspire students to shape not only their futures but also the cultural and creative landscape of Vancouver and beyond.

Learn more about this and other Faculty of Education Alumni Awards.

RECORDING: 2025-26 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

By Avril Hwang

Click here to watch the 2025-26 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.

Search: Lecturer (full-time) in Exercise Prescription and Injury Management

By Johanna Mills

Open date: September 18, 2025
Deadline to apply: While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are asked to submit their complete application package by December 1, 2025.

The School of Kinesiology, within UBC’s Faculty of Education, one of the world’s leading faculties of its kind, invites applications for the position of Lecturer (full-time) in Exercise Prescription and Injury Management.

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the School of Kinesiology in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time Lecturer position in Exercise Prescription and Injury Management. This is a term position for three years, with the possibility of further renewal. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2026, or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.

The successful candidate must have a minimum of a master’s degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or a closely related area. Candidates must have: (1) knowledge of exercise prescription and injury management; (2) a strong understanding of the scope of practice and core competencies for kinesiologists and clinical exercise physiologists; and (3) a strong understanding of evidence-informed practice for professional kinesiologists and clinical exercise physiologists. Preference will be given to candidates who: (1) hold professional accreditation as a qualified exercise professional (e.g., clinical exercise physiologist, kinesiologist, strength and conditioning coach, etc.); (2) hold certification with national or international bodies such as Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, American College of Sports Medicine, or National Strength and Conditioning Association; and (3) have previous experience teaching practical courses in exercise prescription and/or strength and conditioning.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses in the areas of exercise testing and prescription, clinical exercise prescription, and injury management. These courses will help prepare undergraduate students to work as professional kinesiologists and clinical exercise physiologists. Teaching responsibilities will include preparing class materials, overseeing experiential learning activities, and assessing student learning and performance. The successful candidate will also be expected to mentor teaching assistants, coordinate with other instructors teaching in the same area, and assist with outreach programs that equip students to work effectively with diverse populations. The candidate will also be expected to participate in service-related activities, such as sitting on the Clinical Exercise Physiology and Professional Kinesiology Advisory Group, which oversees the professional practice curriculum. The annual teaching load for this position is 21 credits (equivalent to seven courses), which may include teaching and teaching-related duties, as assigned by the Director.

This position is subject to budgetary approval. The expected starting salary range for this position is $110,000 – $125,000 per annum. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress increment scale within the UBC Faculty of Education.

The School of Kinesiology, the Faculty of Education, and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. We seek candidates who share a commitment to inclusion, decolonization, reconciliation, anti-racism, and social justice in their teaching and service. For more information about the Faculty of Education’s commitments and work related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, please visit this link.

The School of Kinesiology currently has 1,450 full-time undergraduate students, and 200 graduate students. We offer a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with specializations in Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Multi-disciplinary Science. The graduate program includes M.A., M.Sc., Master of Kinesiology (non-thesis), Master of High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership, and Ph.D. degrees spanning multiple disciplines in kinesiology. According to the QS World University Rankings, the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia is ranked 5th globally and 2nd nationally in the field of sports-related studies. For further details about the School of Kinesiology and its programs, please visit the School’s website at this link.

UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, tied 1st in Canadian rankings and ranked 10th globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit this website.

Interested applicants are invited to submit an application package that includes:

a cover letter (two pages maximum, and please indicate whether or not you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
curriculum vitae;
a brief teaching dossier (two to three pages maximum), including a statement on teaching philosophy and examples of applications of that philosophy;
evidence of teaching effectiveness (including teaching/course evaluations, peer-reviews of teaching, and sample course syllabus, if available);
an equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) statement (one page maximum) that describes and documents your contributions to EDID through your teaching, research/educational leadership, service, and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans for EDID; and
names and contact details of three academic references. Letters of reference will only be requested for candidates who are advancing to the next stage in the search process.

Complete application files must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file addressed to Dr. Romeo Chua, Co-Director, School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process. Accommodations are available on request for all applicants with disabilities at all stages of the search process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact educ.hr@ubc.ca.

While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are encouraged to submit their complete application package by December 1, 2025. Questions regarding this search and the application deadline should be directed to Dr. Romeo Chua, Co-Director, School of Kinesiology, at kin.director@ubc.ca.

—
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

ubc.ca | educ.ubc.ca

Search: Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured) in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology

By Johanna Mills

The School of Kinesiology, within UBC’s Faculty of Education, one of the world’s leading faculties of its kind, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured) in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology.

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xwmə0kwəy’əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the School of Kinesiology in Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor (tenure track) or Associate Professor (tenured) position in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2026 or as mutually agreed upon between the University and the successful candidate.

The successful candidate must hold a PhD degree in the areas of Kinesiology or a related field (e.g., Exercise Science, Human Physiology, Clinical Exercise Physiology) at the time of application. They must: (1) (for the rank of Assistant Professor) demonstrate a strong potential to engage in scholarly activity and build an impactful research program, or (for the rank of Associate Professor) have a growing body of productive scholarly activity, that includes a record of research dissemination, in terms of peer-reviewed articles and presentations at national and international scholarly conferences; and (2) have demonstrated ability to apply for (for the rank of Assistant Professor) or evidence of securing (for the rank of Associate Professor) competitive research funding (e.g., tri-council and partnership grants) in cardiovascular physiology.

This position complements the strategic plans for interdisciplinary research excellence within the School of Kinesiology and across Faculties at UBC, and the incumbent will play a key role in generating and disseminating knowledge on the role of physical activity and health in diverse populations. They are expected to establish a program of original, externally funded research (e.g., tri-council and partnership grants) and teach undergraduate courses in the School and contribute to the growth of the School through supervision of graduate students, participation in service activities within the University and in the broader scholarly community, and collaboration with scientists within the School and across Faculties at UBC. The successful candidate will contribute to research that examines the underlying mechanisms, treatment, and management of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to research in cardiovascular physiology, the successful candidate will be able to contribute to teaching in areas that require expertise and advanced knowledge in clinical exercise physiology. They are also expected \to develop and teach courses including “Advanced Applications in Exercise Physiology”, as well as advanced upper-level courses in the areas of “cardiovascular physiology”, “cardiac rehabilitation”, and/or “clinical exercise physiology”, to be offered to senior undergraduate and graduate students. The annual teaching workload for this position is nine credits (equivalent to three courses).

This is a tenure-track (Assistant Professor) or tenured (Associate Professor) position in the Professoriate stream. As an Assistant Professor, the successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, tenure, and promotion in subsequent years, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. As an Associate Professor, the appointment (rank and tenure) is subject to a positive review of the successful candidate’s record of achievements based on UBC’s appointment and tenure criteria as specified in the Collective Agreement, following the University’s established appointment processes. For more information on the review process and criteria for this stream, please visit this link. The position is subject to final budgetary approval. The expected starting salary for this position is $155,000 – $170,000 per annum for an Assistant Professor, or $170,000 – $195,000 for an Associate Professor. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress increment scale within the UBC Faculty of Education.

The School of Kinesiology currently has 31 full-time tenure stream faculty members, 1450 full-time undergraduate students, and 200 graduate students. We offer a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with specializations in Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Multi-disciplinary Science. The graduate program includes M.A., M.Sc., Master of Kinesiology (non-thesis), Master of High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership, and Ph.D. degrees spanning multiple disciplines in kinesiology. According to the QS World University Rankings, the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia is ranked 5th globally and 2nd nationally in the field of sports-related studies. For further details about the School of Kinesiology and its research, please visit the School’s website at this link.

UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, often being tied for first in Canadian rankings and ranked among the top 20 globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit this website.

The School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. We seek candidates who share a commitment to inclusion, decolonization, reconciliation, anti-racism, and social justice in their teaching and service. For more information about the Faculty of Education’s commitments and work related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, please visit this link.

Interested applicants are invited to submit an application package that includes:

a cover letter (two pages maximum, and please indicate whether or not you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
curriculum vitae;
a five-year research plan;
a summary of teaching interests and philosophy (two to three pages maximum);
evidence of teaching excellence (such as course outlines and student evaluations if available);
three papers that are the most significant and relevant to their research interests;
an equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) statement (one page maximum) that describes and documents your contributions to EDID through your teaching, research, service, and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans for EDID; and
names and contact details of three references. Letters of reference will only be requested for candidates who are advancing to the next stage in the search process.

Complete application files must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file addressed to Dr. Romeo Chua, Co-Director, School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca. Please indicate in Subject line: Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process. Accommodations are available on request for all applicants with disabilities at all stages of the search process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact educ.hr@ubc.ca.

—
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

ubc.ca | educ.ubc.ca

LLED Scholarship Stories: Dr. Patsy Duff

By eyung

The LLED Scholarship Stories is a video series created to highlight the distinctive and diverse research taking place within the department. These short video interviews are intended to provide a personal introduction to the research interests and teaching practices of our faculty and graduate students. This is the first interview featuring Dr. Patsy Duff, Professor in LLED.

The Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI-Inclusive Excellence in Education presents: The Transformative Speaker Series – Abolition, Black Trans Life and the Carceral Logics of Education | October 6, 2025

By Johanna Mills

The Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI-Inclusive Excellence in Education is pleased to launch its Transformative Education Speaker Series with a talk by Dr. Qui Alexander (they/them), a queer, trans, Black Puerto Rican scholar, educator, and organizer based in Tkaronto.

In this talk, Abolition, Black Trans Life and the Carceral Logics of Education, Dr. Alexander will explore how schools reproduce systems of surveillance, punishment, and control, and consider how education can instead be a practice of freedom.

Dr. Alexander is an Assistant Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Trans Studies in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Their teaching and scholarship center on Black trans studies, abolition and transformative justice, and education beyond formal school contexts. Grounded in the belief that education must center transformation and healing, they bring this vision into every educational space they have the honour to hold and co-create.

Date

Monday, October 6, 2025

Time

6:00 to 7:30 pm PDT

Location

Scarfe 310

Questions

Please contact naheed.jadavji@ubc.ca.

Truth and Reconciliation Week 2025

By Johanna Mills

September 22, 2025

New Programs + Pathways | Research | Students | News + Alumni | Learn more + Get involved

A Message from Dean Hare

Truth and Reconciliation Week is a time to reflect on the lasting impacts of the Indian residential school system and to honour the strength and survivance of Indigenous communities. It is also a time for all of us to deepen our understanding, take responsibility, and commit to reconciliation in meaningful ways.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed on September 30, was established in 2021 in response to the calls of Survivors and Indigenous leaders. It builds on the legacy of Orange Shirt Day, inspired by the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad. As a six-year-old, Phyllis’s new orange shirt, gifted by her grandmother, was taken from her on her first day at residential school, never to be returned.

Her story has become a powerful symbol of how children’s identities and connections to culture were stripped away through the residential school system. The orange shirt reminds us, always, that every child matters.

This page highlights the Faculty of Education’s ongoing work in reconciliation. I encourage you to explore, reflect, and consider how these stories may guide your own learning and actions. Together, we must continue to walk this path with respect, accountability, and hope.

Miigwech,
Jan

Learn more about Dean Hare here.

Through innovative programs and pathways, the Faculty of Education is creating new opportunities that honour Indigenous knowledges, strengthen community connections, and open doors to future generations of educators and leaders.

Ts”kel: Indigenous EdD Specialization
A groundbreaking doctoral pathway rooted in community, empowering Indigenous scholars and leaders through flexible, cohort-based learning in educational leadership and resurgence.

Learn-and-Earn Program
A transformative, year-long program in which Indigenous high school students strengthen cultural connections, complete graduation requirements, and earn early university credits — all while opening powerful pathways to teaching and leadership.

MOOC: Nurturing Childhoods through Indigenous Ways of Knowing
A free, interactive online course (6–8 weeks) that helps educators, families, and service providers enrich early learning by integrating Indigenous knowledge and pedagogies.

Teacher Mentorship Pilot Program (TMPP)
A UBC Faculty of Education–led, province-wide mentorship network offering tailored, community-informed professional development and a dedicated focus on supporting Indigenous teachers to thrive and lead.

Across the Faculty, Indigenous scholars and partners are leading research that disrupts colonial narratives, re-centres Indigenous knowledges, and sparks innovative approaches to education, community, and well-being.

Dr. Janice Forsyth
Challenging colonial narratives in sport by uncovering how Canada’s ‘war canoe’ erased Indigenous traditions — while advancing pathways to reclaim and celebrate them.

Drs. Margaret Macintyre Latta, Bill Cohen and Danielle Lamb
Co-creating respectful, land-based approaches with Indigenous communities that reimagine teaching, dismantle colonial practices, and strengthen reconciliation.

Dr. Rosalin Miles
Leading the innovative ShQUooz Circle initiative, connecting cultural teachings, physical activity, and mentorship from Elders and Knowledge Keepers to uplift Indigenous children, youth, and families.

Through their studies and leadership, Indigenous students are shaping education with creativity, resilience, and community-rooted perspectives that strengthen classrooms and inspire future generations.

Kadence Cave
An Indigenous artist and NITEP student, Kadence, serves as the program’s first Project Assistant, co-developing engaging digital resources and leading wellness workshops that weave Indigenous knowledge into the BEd experience.

Katherine Strom Trudel
An Indigenous West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) graduate, Katherine’s ancestry informs her teaching, centring place-conscious pedagogy, representation, and creating space for difficult but necessary conversations so that every student can thrive.

From pioneering programs to inspiring alumni, these stories highlight the achievements, leadership, and lasting impact of Indigenous educators and advocates within the UBC community and beyond.

Indigenous Education Alumni Network (IEAN)
A vibrant and growing community that fosters connection, collaboration, and collective action among alumni dedicated to Indigenous education.

Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) 50th Anniversary
For half a century, NITEP has been a trailblazer in Indigenous teacher education — shaping generations of educators grounded in cultural strength and excellence. This anniversary honours both its powerful legacy and its enduring vision for the future.

Bringing Indigenous Teacher Education Home
NITEP’s new Lax Kw’alaams Field Centre expands access to teacher education in Northern B.C., bringing culturally rooted training closer to Indigenous communities.

Reclaiming culture through Nsyilxcn language teaching
Kara Ross, UBCO graduate and Syilx educator, revitalizes identity and culture through powerful language teaching in Vernon classrooms.

Shared UNESCO Chair in Rights Education
Dr. Candace Galla takes on a prestigious UNESCO Chair appointment, advancing Indigenous and non-dominant language communities on the global stage.

Reconciliation & Decolonization Alumni Award 2024
Celebrating Chas Desjarlais and Dr. Meike Wernicke for their outstanding leadership and contributions to advancing reconciliation and decolonization.

From landmark lectures and community events to professional learning and opportunities for giving, there are many ways to deepen your engagement with Indigenous education and reconciliation at UBC.

Events

2025-26 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture | October 2, 2025
This year’s lecture features Dr. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson — a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg artist, scholar, and public intellectual whose work has reshaped understandings of Indigenous resurgence and relationality. Through art, storytelling, and education, Dr. Simpson explores how Indigenous ways of knowing connect us more deeply to culture, community, and land.

Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day |September 30
A powerful march of solidarity uniting students, faculty, staff, and community members to honour Survivors, their families, and their communities. The event is both a commemoration and a call to action — affirming that every child matters and that reconciliation is a shared responsibility.

Acts of Giving & Learning |September 23 & 25, 2025
An interactive opportunity to honour Orange Shirt Day in the Scarfe foyer — create “Every Child Matters” buttons, reflect on reconciliation, and share your personal commitments as part of a collective act of remembrance and learning.

When We Were Alone Story Walk | September 22-30 | Scarfe Foyer
A self-guided story walk bringing David Alexander Robertson’s award-winning book When We Were Alone to life across Faculty spaces, alongside plant and poetry walks that spark reflection on our responsibilities to truth and reconciliation.

Conversation with Dr. Sean Carlton and Carolyn Roberts | September 24, 2025
A timely webinar addressing residential school denialism and its ongoing impacts on reconciliation, education, and Indigenous peoples.

Professional development courses for educators

Engaging with Indigenous Curriculum
An immersive, in-person institute equipping BC educators to decolonize and Indigenize their practice while deepening understanding of Indigenous histories, positionality, and anti-oppression.

Assessment for Equity Program
A dynamic online cohort reimagining assessment through Indigenous knowledge and holistic traditions, centring equity, connection, and transformation over metrics.

Programs + Faculty

Meet our Indigenous faculty members
Discover the scholars advancing Indigenous perspectives, revitalization, and educational justice through their teaching, research, and community work.

Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP)
A trailblazing B.Ed. Program rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, dedicated to training Indigenous educators through community-based field centres and culturally grounded pedagogy.

Office of Indigenous Education
Leading the Faculty’s Indigenous strategy by building partnerships, leading advocacy, and advancing initiatives at local, national, and global levels.

The UBC Faculty of Education is situated within the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Syilx (Okanagan) peoples.

Building lasting resources through Indigenous knowledge and wellness

By Johanna Mills

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

Dean Jan Hare featured in UBC Today leadership series

By Johanna Mills

September 8, 2025

Dr. Jan Hare, Dean of the Faculty of Education, is featured in UBC Today’s recent Leadership one-on-one series, which profiles senior leaders across the university and explores their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations.

In this article, Dean Hare shares her approach to leadership and the principles and values that guide her work within the Faculty. She reflects on the profound influence of mentors and supporters throughout her journey and the lessons that continue to ground her practice.

Drawing from her background as an Anishinaabe-kwe scholar and educator from the M’Chigeeng First Nation, Dean Hare also shares how the integration of Indigenous perspectives is helping to create a more inclusive future for education at UBC.

Read the full feature on UBC Today.