Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (every Thursday)

Location: AERL Theatre (room 120), 2202 Main Mall

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*** Note: This seminar will not be recorded***

Truth BEFORE Reconciliation

Vicki is the Assistant Director, Programming at the First Nations House of Learning, UBC. She is a truth-teller and a frequent guest speaker at various events on Indigenous topics, and is a consultant on Indigenous cultural awareness training, Indigenous and colonial history, and advancing Indigenous initiatives in companies and post-secondary institutions. Vicki will provide an overview of the political and legal landscape in BC and Canada as well as Truth and Reconciliation processes. Our work towards Truth and Reconciliation today will affect generations to come. We need to learn about Canada’s true history regarding its treatment of Indigenous peoples since European contact. We need to understand what it is that we are trying to reconcile and that only comes with being truthful first, doing our own homework, learning, listening and being respectful with each other as we navigate, at times, very difficult discussions.

Vicki Lynne George

Assistant Director, Programming, UBC First Nations House of Learning

Bio:

Vicki is from the Wet’suwet’en Nation. She is trained in the legal, executive and corporate world with over 23 years of experience.

Born and raised in the lower mainland, Vicki continues to stay connected with her Indigenous roots and extended family members in Northern BC. She understands the importance of carrying on the work of her parents and family relating to Indigenous issues.

Her father, Ron George, was a prominent Indigenous leader and her late mother, Phyllis, worked at key Indigenous organizations. Vicki grew up with law, politics and history discussions around the dinner table. Her parents’ knowledge and teachings enable Vicki to continue their work and achievements in today’s world.

Vicki developed and produced “The Constitution Express: A Multimedia History” (2005-2006), a joint project with UBC’s First Nations Studies program and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Generational activism has deep roots for Vicki. Her father was a key participant and organizer in the Constitution Express, and Vicki’s multimedia project started an archive for this historical movement that resulted in Section 35 being included in the Canadian Constitution. To date, Vicki’s project is still the only published and significant work on this extraordinary Indigenous history. This university project led to her being a documentary subject in the film “The Road Forward”, (released 2017) written and directed by Marie Clements. Vicki has screened “The Road Forward” film around BC to further Truth and Reconciliation education in companies, universities and at film festivals.

Vicki is a guest speaker at companies and universities in the lower mainland, including Vancity Savings Credit Union, National Film Board, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia. She also applies her knowledge and experience with consultation services that includes Indigenous cultural awareness training, history and advancing initiatives in companies and post-secondary institutions. Vicki builds bridges and works at improving relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to move forward with Truth and Reconciliation.