IRSI acknowledges with gratitude, respect and humility that its offices are located on UBC's Vancouver (Point Grey) campus and Okanagan campus, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam and Syilx Okanagan peoples, respectively.
Watch a traditional welcome to Musqueam territory by Elder Larry Grant here and a traditional welcome to Syilx Okanagan territory by Richard Armstrong here.
Community-based research at UBC is grounded in local partnerships and perspectives. At UBCV, Indigenous research partnerships are supported by the Musqueam Memorandum of Affiliation signed by UBC and the Musqueam Indian Band in 2006. Similarly, Indigenous research at UBCO is supported by the Okanagan Nation Alliance Memorandum of Understanding, which originally dates to 2005 and is renewed every few years.
A part of the portfolio of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) office, the Indigenous Research Support Initiative (IRSI) provides professional support and services for Indigenous research collaborations across both UBC campuses.
IRSI's day-to-day activities are undertaken by a small but dedicated team. IRSI leadership receives culturally-relevant advice, leadership and guidance from Indigenous Advisory Committees comprised of local Indigenous community members as well as faculty, staff and students from each of UBCV and UBCO, thus ensuring that the local and regional context at each campus is honoured.
