Meet the staff in Shq’apthut: A Gathering Place

Shq’apthut: A Gathering Place is a home away from home for Indigenous learners, a place to make connections with other students, Elders-in-Residence and get information about resources and services that can help you along your educational path. Here you’ll find four full-time staff members ready to welcome you.

Two Indigenous access coordinators help you connect with off-campus resources related to housing, childcare, transportation, supports in community and on-campus resources like library services, tutoring, advising and more. They make sure there are lots of events at Shq’apthut and also support students to make plans to balance the intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of life and learning. These can be as simple as plans to add cultural, physical or social activities into the semester with regular check-ins to keep on track.

The Shq’apthut coordinator and Elder support person can connect you with Elders-in-Residence, share protocols for connecting with Elders and even determine what kinds of things to connect with an Elder about.  

The Manager of Indigenous initiatives provides leadership and support to the Shq’apthut team and works with VIU faculties, departments and local Indigenous communities to streamline services and supports for Indigenous learners. The manager also works with funding partners to amplify education innovations happening in Indigenous communities.

Meet the staff:

Kerry: Indigenous Access Coordinator

Kerry comes from the Hesquiaht First Nation from the Amos Family. She holds direct ties to Tla-o-qui-aht through her maternal grandmother from the Jones family, and maternal ties to Ehatis’ from my great grandmother, from the Smith Family. Her father’s roots come from the Sandy Bay Ojibwe First Nation in Manitoba (formerly White Mud Band) from the Spence clan. Her ties, also from her father, extend to the Red River Metis Settlement from the Belhumeur and Klyne lines. Kerry is also a VIU Bachelor of Social Work alum. Kerry has spent the last five years working in human services. She is a mother, aunty, life partner, daughter, sister, friend, helper and Nuu-chah-nulth artist. She holds all these roles dear to her.

Brittany: Indigenous Access Coordinator

Brittany is ‘Namgis First Nation from Alert Bay, BC, where she was born and raised but has been living in Nanaimo for most of her life. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys staying active through playing soccer. She has completed a Bachelor of Tourism Management and is now working towards a Master’s in Sustainable Leisure Management at VIU. She is excited about her new role as an Indigenous Student Access Coordinator and to work out of Shq’apthut, where she has personally found comfort on campus as a student.

Lyn: Shq’apthut Coordinator and Elder Support Person

Lyn is a member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois) and grew up near Six Nations of the Grand River Ontario. Lyn is Cayuga Snipe Clan and European. Lyn has been a guest on Coast Salish Territory for 15 years and has been working alongside First Nations communities in BC for six years. She has a career background in mental health and addictions as well as child and youth care. Her passions include plant medicines, food sovereignty, and reconnecting to her culture and spiritual traditions. 

Heather, Manager of Indigenous Initiatives

Heather has ancestral ties to the Red River Settlement on her father’s side. Heather’s Métis family names are Thibert, Sauve, Campbell and Burke used to be spelled Bourke. Heather has English and American ancestry on her mother’s side. Heather is a VIU graduate (BA, Creative Writing) and holds a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University. Heather came to VIU as a mature learner and was the first person in her family to get a degree. As a result of these experiences, she is now an advocate for change in education so that Indigenous learners can achieve their aspirations in a way that is aligned with their traditions, values and Knowledges.

If you have ideas about resources, supports, activities, events or something else you’d like to see at Shq’apthut, let us know! Office hours for Shq’apthut are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 4 pm on Fridays. Contact the Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement by email at Indigenous@viu.ca or call 250.740.6510.