UBC First Nations Longhouse

Take a mid-week breather and find relaxation through yoga and breath work!

FNHL and the Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle are holding two more drop-in yoga and breath work sessions this term, led by Dr. Rosalin Miles (Research Associate, Indigenous Studies, School of Kinesiology):

📅 Wednesday, November 26
📅 Wednesday, December 3

All Indigenous students, faculty, and staff are welcome. Yoga mats and blocks will be provided to those that need them. Classes restart in January 2026 and run weekly through Term 2.

🕘 Wednesdays, 9:30–10:30am
📍 Multipurpose Room, East Wing, First Nations Longhouse

Welcome to UBC! Whether you’re a new or returning student, you’re invited to immerse yourself in a series of exciting Weeks of Welcome events at the Longhouse this September.

These orientation and welcome events are a great way to connect with fellow Indigenous students, get to know the vibrant Indigenous community at UBC, and start the year feeling supported and grounded.

From open houses to beading circles, there’s something for everyone during your first week. See the full list of Weeks of Welcome events happening all through September: https://fnhl.ubc.ca/students/student-events/

We can’t wait to see you there! ✨

We happily partnered with the Faculty of Arts on Indigenous Symbols and Signifiers, which involved six Indigenous student artists producing original artworks in response to the question: What symbols or places from your culture represent belonging? Congratulations artists on bringing your vision to life.

Six Indigenous student artists weave symbols of ancestry and identity into art - Faculty of Arts What symbols from your culture represent belonging? Six Indigenous students across UBC were invited to visually represent cultural symbols that hold deep meaning in their identities, histories, and traditional teachings. The Faculty of Arts and First Nations House of Learning are honoured to showcas...

Join the team!

The First Nations House of Learning is seeking an Indigenous Collegium Coordinator, a leave position with a term of one year. The role is responsible for the coordination and delivery of programs and services in sxʷta:təχʷəm, a unique space within the Longhouse that provides an Indigenous student-led ‘home-away-from-home’ for Indigenous students at UBC Vancouver.

- Term: One year (July 31, 2026 end date)
- Job Profile: AAPS Salaried – Student Management, Level A (Non-union)
- Compensation Range: $5,365.42 – $7,709.92 CAD Monthly

Indigenous job seekers are highly encouraged to apply. Applications close Sunday, June 15, 11:59pm.

Learn more about sxʷta:təχʷəm here: https://fnhl.ubc.ca/students/sx%ca%b7tat%c9%99%cf%87%ca%b7%c9%99m/

View the job description and apply here: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcstaffjobs/job/Indigenous-Collegium-Coordinator_JR21115

This National Indigenous History Month, take a self-guided tour of world-class Indigenous outdoor art on campus using an interactive map, which includes interesting stories about each of the following artworks:

- sʔi:ɬqəy̓ qeqən: Musqueam Post
- ʔəlqsən: Point Grey
- All My Relations
- House Post of c̓səmlenəxʷ
- House Post of qiyəplenəxʷ
- Raven Brings the Light
- Reconciliation Pole
- Thunder & Take Off
- Victory Through Honour

Find the interactive map here: https://fnhl.ubc.ca/campus-engagement/indigenous-outdoor-art/

FNHL open letter concerning public denial statements

To the University of British Columbia community,

A collective of approximately 30 Indigenous faculty and staff from UBC Vancouver recently gathered to discuss public statements that question or deny Indigenous rights, title, and the historical record of Indian Residential School abuses and deaths. We stand together as Indigenous peoples to express deep concern about these claims and to reaffirm the truth of our histories, laws, and lived experiences.

Read more: https://fnhl.ubc.ca/2025/05/21/fnhl-open-letter-concerning-public-denial-statements/

Today, May 5th, is National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People (2SLGBTQI+), also known as "Red Dress Day," a term coined by Métis artist Jaime Black as "an aesthetic response to this critical national issue." The First Nations House of Learning joins with Indigenous peoples and others everywhere to recognize this solemn day, its 15th anniversary, but more especially to echo calls for action at all levels so that this ongoing tragedy is effectively addressed and the murders and disappearances stop.

We’re looking for volunteers!
Join us for the 2025 National Indigenous Physical Activity & Wellness Conference on May 2–3 at UBC. This is a great chance to support an inspiring event centered around Indigenous health, sport, and community wellness.
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Sign up to volunteer using our LinkTree in our bio!

The Longhouse is closed today, February 3rd, due to poor weather and related travel conditions.

Indigenous language in B.C. is facing a critical state of emergency. However, located in northern B.C., the Children of the Taku, a non-profit society connected to the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, is leading a revival of their language. To learn more, UBC Community Engagement spoke with K’èdukà Jack of the Children of the Taku Society and Dr. Christine Schreyer from UBC Okanagan, who has collaborated with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation on various initiatives since 2005. They discuss their collaborative efforts to document language loss and revitalization, and how this work is strengthening cultural identity and community resilience.

Listen to the interview to learn how their efforts are not only restoring a critically endangered language but also strengthening cultural identity and community resilience:

Lingít: a Love Language for Community — Taku River Tlingit First Nation and UBCO Partner to Document Language Reclamation and Resilience - Community Engagement In this episode, we speak with K’èdukà Jack, executive director of the Children of the Taku Society, and Dr. Christine Schreyer, an associate professor at UBC Okanagan. They discuss their collaborative efforts to document language loss and revitalization, and how this work is strengthening cultu...

How Musqueam became a leader in ground penetrating radar - Musqueam Musqueam and UBC have been working together to use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to search for ancestors in a culturally-informed way. Today, this relationship continues to grow and has made Musqueam a national leader in First Nations-led GPR work and training.

Indigenous students with an artistic flair are asked to consider this unique opportunity to share your expressions.

Call for Art Proposals: Indigenous Symbols and Signifiers - Faculty of Arts What symbols or places from your culture represent belonging? First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students currently enrolled at UBC Vancouver or Okanagan are invited to submit their artwork proposals by Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST). Learn more about the how to apply, what’s involved, e...