Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup is an advisor in the Faculty of Medicine Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (REDI). Thlaapkiituup is from the diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ – Ditidaht First Nation, one of fourteen Nuuchahnulth Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. As the REDI Indigenous Advisor, Derek provides leadership and support across the Faculty to help create and sustain learning and work environments that incorporate standards of cultural safety and humility and that are free from Indigenous specific racism and discrimination. Derek promotes inclusion of an Indigenous perspective in all Faculty initiatives. Derek also works closely with the Director, Indigenous Engagement to implement the Faculty’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action in a way that will best support the formal commitments made to Indigenous peoples for a better and just future. This important work will also create opportunities for students, staff and faculty to engage with Indigenous people and communities in meaningful ways, and to begin anew the creation of redressing what we believe ourselves to be – as Indigenous peoples, and as Canadians.
Email: indigenousinitiatives.advisor@ubc.ca
Read a Message from the Indigenous Advisor
Indigenous Stories and Events
- IBPOC Voices: A Conversation with Jorden Hendry
Join us virtually on Monday, April 17th, 2023 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (PST), for a Conversation with Jorden Hendry. Jorden is Tsimshian/settler and a member of the Lax Kw’alaams band. As a PhD student at the University of British Columbia, Jorden studies Indigenous Public Health and the systems that drive health disparities. - Laxgalts’ap Village of Nisga’a Nation marks the start of Hoobiyee celebrations with traditional totem pole raising on the morning of Friday Feb. 24
Hoobiyee is when the Nisga’a Nation marks a new season of harvest beginning with the arrival of saak, a breed of oolichan fish that is a staple of the traditional Nisga’a diet. - You Are On Indian Land: Crossing the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress
Watch the recording of “You Are On Indian Land: Crossing the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress.” In this event, we had a conversation with Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell of the Mohawks of Akwesasne, and director of You Are On Indian Land and we learnt more about the broader reach of truth, reconciliation and redress. - Unlearning & undoing systemic white supremacy & Indigenous-specific racism within the BC OPH Officer
Watch the recording “Unlearning and undoing systemic white supremacy and Indigenous-specific racism within the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer With Dr. Kate Jongbloed and Dr. Danièle Behn Smith” organized by the UBC Learning Circle. - Memorial march to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people (February 14th)
Feb. 14 marks a day of remembering, grieving, healing, and honoring the Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse peoples who are missing or murdered. - My Privilege, My Responsibility: A Higher Calling To Do Better in an Era of Truth, Reconciliation & Redress with Sheila North
Watch the recording of “My Privilege, My Responsibility: A Higher Calling To Do Better in an Era of Truth, Reconciliation & Redress with Sheila North” to learn about the activism of Sheila North, the creator of the widely used hashtag #MMIW – a movement that advocates for the end of violence against First Nations/ Indigenous women and girls.