Jun 21, 2024
Musqueam (Vancouver, BC) – Langara College is pleased to announce a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to further honour, formalize and strengthen our relationship and work together with the Musqueam First Nation.
The MOA features eight shared intentions between the Musqueam people and the College. These include the formation of an Elders Advisory Committee to help guide the College’s Indigenization and reconciliation work, and an Operational Working Group to deepen the relationship between community and College with established priorities, goals, coordinated intercultural educational opportunities and guidelines for collaboration.
“This is a special moment for Musqueam,” said Chief Wayne Sparrow (yəχʷyaχʷələq.) “There’s a lot of change that has to happen, and by working together, we can achieve a vision of our community where education is our priority.”
“As we look ahead to the future we want to build together, I am grateful to stand with Musqueam people to combine our collective knowledge, learnings and teachings to support everyone on their pathway to success,” said Dr. Paula Burns, President and CEO. “This agreement builds on a relationship of respect between the College and Musqueam. I am looking forward to our continued partnership in education and reconciliation.”
Langara has also outlined free tuition for registered Musqueam Band members in Langara’s Regular Studies programs, dedicated programming for Musqueam community members to ensure their pathway for educational attainment and employment is acknowledged and supported, and educational pathways and supports for Musqueam learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to pursue post-secondary education.
Langara and the Musqueam Employment and Training Program will work together to support the return of community members to the workforce, intercultural education opportunities for all members of the college community to learn more about Musqueam peoples, history and culture, and engagement guidelines created by the Elders Committee and Operational Working Group to help staff and faculty seek input, support and participation from the Musqueam community.
This MOA builds on collaboration between Langara and Musqueam. In 2016, Langara College received the Musqueam name snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ meaning house of teaching, a recognition of Musqueam territory, language, culture, history and protocols. In 2018, the College raised a Musqueam house post to welcome visitors to Musqueam territory, and in 2020, Gail Sparrow was appointed to the position of Special Advisor to the President of Langara College to provide advice and support in working with Musqueam.
About snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 19,000 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 leləm 'house of teachings', a name given to it by Musqueam, on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.
Learn more.
Adam Brayford
Director, Strategic Communications and Marketing
Langara College
abrayford@langara.ca
From left: Rosalind Campbell, Tamara Vrooman, Dr. Paula Burns, Premier David Eby, Minister Diane Lebouthillier, Chief Wayne Sparrow, Gail Sparrow, MP Wilson Miao, Wendy Grant-John, and Adam Palmer.