Faculty of Art
BC First Nations Justice Council
Aniin, hello! Anongkwe nindizhnikaaz, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek nindoonjiba migizi miniiwaa awuse nindoodem. I am a Two-Spirit, Anishinaabekwe from Gull Bay First Nation, ON. I was offered early acceptance to UBC in 2018, and was hesitant to moving
out West so far from home. I decided to attend the Indigenous Destination UBC Program which was designed to aid First Nations, Métis, and Inuit high school attendees learn more about transitioning to university. This is where
I met friends whom I still call close friends today. Initially, the program I was thinking of majoring in was Political Science then minoring in Indigenous Studies, but after taking a few courses offered by CIS I changed my mind quite quickly and decided to swap and minor in Poli Sci. Being surrounded by other Indigenous alumni, taught by Indigenous professors, and learning decolonization methodologies became a passion. I was keen to find solutions in ways to support Indigenous peoples and in particular, in the justice and legal sectors.
My practicum with the BC First Nations Justice Council was incredibly eye-opening, and the research project is still a source I look to. This degree has proven to provide foundational knowledge that continues to aid my understanding and research. Some of the most engaging and memorable courses being; FNIS 310: Theory Seminar with Dr. Dory Nason, FNEL 480: Endangered Language Documentation & Revitalization with Dr. Mark Turin, FNIS 456: Queer, Indigiqueer, and Two-Spirit Indigenous Studies with Dr. Daniel Heath Justice, and FNIS 452: Indigenous Social Movements – “Red Power and its Interlocutors” with Dr. Glen Coulthard. These were courses that reinvigorated my desire to continue my studies. I am now currently in my 1L in the Juris Doctor (JD) and a Juris Indigenarum Doctor (JID) joint degree law program at the University of Victoria.