Aug 19, 2022
Vancouver, BC – snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College is proud to welcome Graeme Joseph to the role of Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Services (IES). Graeme is Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en from north-western BC. He is a member of the House of Guxsan, part of the Fireweed Clan or Gisgaast. His father is a member of the Frog Clan from Hagwilget.
“I am excited to re-join the Langara community and to live and work in Musqueam Territory again. Both have played an important role in my life and I am forever grateful for the contributions that each has provided me. Without the College, I would have never would have been able to pursue a university degree,” said Joseph.
Joseph attended Langara’s university transfer program before going to University of British Columbia (UBC), where he completed his undergraduate degree in anthropology. After graduating from UBC, Joseph worked at the university for fourteen years in a variety of roles with the First Nations House of Learning, Enrolment Services, and the Vice President's Students Office. While at UBC, he worked to create recruitment and retention strategies, and played a role in the creation and implementation of UBC’s first Indigenous Strategic Plan.
“I am looking forward to working with Indigenous students, the Musqueam community, urban Indigenous communities, and my colleagues across the College to build upon the successes and strengths of the College to support Indigenous students. I am also looking forward to leading new initiatives that support the College’s commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
One of Joseph’s most memorable accomplishments was being one of the co-creators of the Langara Transfer Program (now Agreement). This initiative was influenced by his personal experiences at Langara and recognizes the importance of leveraging the college transfer program for preparing Indigenous students for university study.
Graeme joined the University of Saskatchewan in 2014 as the Team Leader of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Success with the Aboriginal Students’ Centre (ASC). Under Graeme’s leadership, the team provided a wide variety of programming in support of Indigenous students each academic year, including personal, social, cultural, and academic supports.
About snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 23,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.
Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Public Affairs
604.323.5702
mdawson@langara.ca
