On Tuesday, May 26, students, faculty, staff, Elders, community members and special guests gathered at the First Peoples House to welcome Dr. Angela Jaime as the University of Victoria’s (UVic) new Vice-President Indigenous.
Guided by local protocol and the teachings of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, the welcome ceremony marked more than the beginning of a new leadership role. It was a moment of relationship and respect as the local nations formally welcomed Jaime to live and work on these lands. The gathering also reflected UVic’s core values and priorities that will help support her as she steps into her new role and responsibilities.
The ceremony offered a moment of grounding for Jaime before beginning her new journey within Etalew̓txʷ | ÁTOL,ÁUTW̱ | the Office of the Vice-President Indigenous, where she will join UVic’s executive leadership in advancing Indigenous priorities and helping guide the university’s ongoing commitments to reconciliation, relationship-building and systems transformation. Her work will continue to support key initiatives such as ʔetalnəw̓əl̓ | ÁTOL,NEUEL and Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward, UVic’s Indigenous Plan 2023, while strengthening relationships with local Nations, communities, students and partners.
During the ceremony, Jaime was blanketed in a woven Coast Salish blanket by Myrna Crossley of the Songhees Nation, a meaningful act of witness, support and care as she begins this next chapter at UVic. Speakers reflected on the importance of welcoming leadership in a good way and the shared responsibility of supporting the work ahead.
When we welcome someone onto these lands in a good way, we are doing more than introducing them to a role or a title. We are bringing them into relationship—with the people, the territory, the teachings and the responsibilities that come with this work. Today, we wrap Angela in our love, our trust and our collective hopes for the future.”
—Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Dr. Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor
Jaime joins UVic with more than 25 years of experience advancing Indigenous education, equity and anti-racism initiatives in post-secondary institutions. An enrolled member of the Pit River Tribe of Northern California, she previously served at the University of Saskatchewan where she held the position of Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement and led major initiatives including the the Indigenous strategy—ohpahotân | oohpaahotaan: Let’s fly up together, the first U15 citizenship/membership verification policy daybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin—truth policy and the oyateki MasterCard Foundation grant project. Her research focuses on Indigenous women in higher education, Indigenous citizenship/membership verification, decolonization and institutional transformation.
Angela brings tremendous experience, vision and heart to this role. We are excited for what is ahead and for the relationships that will continue to grow under her leadership.”
—Lalita Kines, acting vice-president Indigenous
Indigenous leadership at UVic grounded in community and relationship
As Jaime begins her role, the ceremony served as a hopeful reminder that Indigenous leadership at UVic is rooted not only in institutional priorities, but also in relationships, community and accountability to the lands and peoples who continue to guide this work.
