大象传媒

Supporting Surrey's urban Indigenous peoples

December 22, 2021
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In a bid to promote the academic, research and community engagement needs and interests of Surrey鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples, 大象传媒 and the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) signed an agreement in early 2019.

The Collaborative Relationship Agreement supports 大象传媒鈥檚 commitment to urban First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit peoples in Surrey, and SUILC鈥檚 goal to advocate on behalf of Surrey鈥檚 urban Indigenous peoples.

In 2016, Surrey鈥檚 Indigenous population was approximately 14,000. Today, the current Indigenous population in Surrey exceeds that of Vancouver.

鈥淭his agreement marks a significant milestone in the ongoing 大象传媒-SUILC relationship, and will help to shape and inform the paths we travel together in support of the region鈥檚 Indigenous communities,鈥 says Steve Dooley, executive director of the Surrey campus.

Over the past three years, SUILC has engaged the Surrey campus in a variety of initiatives, including commemorating Orange Shirt Day in the city. 大象传媒 has also contributed funding for Skookum Lab, a SUILC social innovation project that addresses and combats root causes of Indigenous child and youth poverty in Surrey and develops community-based solutions.

As 大象传媒 campuses gradually return to more in-person teaching and campus- wide events this fall, 大象传媒 and SUILC plan to continue their work to support Indigenous communities in Surrey and support Indigenous student recruitment to 大象传媒.