Indigenous Knowledges:
iʔ sqilxʷ aʔ cmiy̓ t smypnwíłnsəlx

Master of Arts (MA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Applying Indigenous Knowledge within local communities in order to fulfil our responsibilities to the Land and Indigenous Peoples.

(Image: Previous Indigenous Art Intensive participant Evangeline John, wears a ribbon skirt she created, in a field filled with balsam root sunflowers in Secwepemcúl’ecw. Courtesy UBCO Indigenous Art Intensive)

Graduate Program Overview

Program Components Expected Duration
MA Coursework and thesis 24 months
PhD Coursework and dissertation 48 months

Indigenous Philosophy inspires us to consider “all our relations” in order to live in harmony with the Land. Indigenous Knowledges and languages emerge from relationships between the Land and our Peoples. These relationships are central to the philosophies of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Beyond simply being in relationships, relations are the foundation of Indigenous reality.

Indigenous Knowledges theme faculty and research students draw on Indigenous pedagogy and research methodologies when working with the Land, Elders and community. The goal of the Indigenous Knowledges Theme is to revitalize traditional Indigenous Knowledge systems, inspire effective actions to meet contemporary challenges, and co-create new Indigenous Knowledge. Students will undertake projects in diverse and inter-related areas such as language recovery/reclamation, redevelopment of Indigenous governance systems, health and wellbeing, ecological restoration, food sovereignty, housing and cultural revitalization.

The MA interdisciplinary degree in Indigenous Knowledges draws upon a well-established network of researchers as the foundation for this program. Graduate students have access to the expertise of diverse, nationally and internationally recognized researchers from a variety of faculties and disciplines in a coherent, thematic framework.

Program milestones
  • establishing a faculty supervisory committee
  • completing coursework
  • preparing, presenting and defending a thesis research proposal
  • completing thesis research and writing, and defending the work
Coursework requirements

18 credits of coursework are required, including:

  • Proseminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (IGS 524)
  • Theme Seminar in Indigenous Knowledge (IGS 582)
  • Research methods course in Indigenous Methods (IGS 503)
  • Additional coursework, selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor (9 credits)
THESIS REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to submit a Thesis Proposal of 2,500 words with a four-page bibliography to the Graduate Programs and Planning Committee; it is developed in consultation with your supervisor. The thesis requires an oral defence administered by the College of Graduate Studies.

The PhD degree is centered on participating faculty and students convening on a regular basis to share ideas, learn about each other’s work, identify opportunities for collaboration, and broaden their interdisciplinary expertise. Faculty scholars all have experience with Indigenous Knowledges, and are committed to the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

Program milestones
  • establishing a faculty supervisory committee
  • selecting and completing coursework
  • preparing, presenting and defending a thesis research proposal
  • passing an oral candidacy exam
  • completing thesis research and writing, and defending the work.
COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS

12 credits are required for the PhD degree, including:

  • Proseminar in Interdisciplinary Studies (IGS 524)
  • Theme Seminar in Indigenous Knowledge (IGS 582)
  • Research methods course: Indigenous Methods (IGS 503)
  • Additional coursework, selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor (3 credits)
DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must also complete a dissertation after passing an oral candidacy exam. Students are required to submit a Doctoral Planning Report with a four-page bibliography to the Graduate Programs and Planning Committee; it is developed in consultation with your the student’s supervisor.

Career Possibilities

Our MA students will gain a host of skills that prepare them for leadership careers within Indigenous community and/or governmental organizations, education, consulting and program evaluation, policy development and more. With the research and analytical skills they gain in the Indigenous Knowledges theme, our PhD students will be prepared to pursue academic and alternative academic career paths.

Research & Supervisors

This IGS theme draws on the expertise of nationally and internationally recognized faculty researchers with years of experience applying Indigenous Knowledge with Elders, communities and the Land.  Indigenous Knowledges theme supervisors appreciate the complex and intertwined relationships that play out in contemporary issues and therefore require interdisciplinary responses.

Our research focus includes the relationships between:

  • Community development and governance
  • Language revitalization
  • Cultural revitalization
  • Indigenous physical sciences and engineering
  • Environmental stewardship
  • Strengthening family and kinship
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Indigenous methodologies, pedagogy and philosophy

Please contact a potential faculty supervisor before you start the application process. We look forward to hearing about your research interests and career goals.

Jeannette Armstrong | Indigenous Studies | jeannette.armstrong@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenous philosophies; Okanagan Syilx thought and environmental ethics coded into Syilx literatures.

Kerrie Charnley | English and Cultural Studies, Nłeʔkepmx Language Fluency, Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF), St’at’imc Language Fluency | kerrie.charnley@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenous Epistemologies, Salishan Intellectual Traditions and Literatures (Interior Salish Literatures and Coast Salish Literatures), Indigenous Literatures, Indigenous Storywork, Indigenous Oral Traditions, Indigenous Literacies, Indigenous Land/Ocean-Based Pedagogies, Indigenous Languages, Multimodal and Multi-sensory Literacies, Cognitive Maps and Geography, Rhetoric, Discourse Analysis, A/r/tography and Arts-Based Research, Autoethnography and Memoir, Mixed Genre Writing, Writing Education

Bill Cohen | Education | billy.cohen@ubc.ca

Research interests: My research interests are extended family pedagogies informed by traditional Indigenous knowledge: particularly a Syilx children-centred model informed by capti̓kʷɬ stories to transform schools to be more appreciative and sustaining of place-based relationships and cultural and ecological diversity.

Mike Evans | Anthropology | michael.evans@ubc.ca

Research interests: Urban Aboriginal issues; Métis history and contemporary issues; Tonga, trans-national migration and globalization; regional food systems; Indigenous methodologies; participatory action research; community based research; and Island studies

Alanaise Ferguson | Indigenous Studies | alanaise.ferguson@ubc.ca

Ian Foulds | Electrical Engineering | ian.foulds@ubc.ca

Research interests: Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS); Microfluidics; Microfabrication

Judy Gillespie | Social Work | judy.gillespie@ubc.ca

Research interests: Child welfare and the role of community in child and family well-being; Mutli-sector collaboration to enhance Indigenous well-being; Interprofessional expertise for child welfare practice; The role of place in well-being; The role of attachment to place in professional retention; Place-based practice.

Monica Carolina Good | Languages and World Literatures, Spanish | monica.good@ubc.ca

Research interests: Spanish Culture and Literature; Indigenous literature; Indigenous language reclamation and revitalization (specifically for the case of Mexico); Indigenous peoples rights to court interpretation (Case of Oaxaca).

Allison Hargreaves | English, English and Cultural Studies | allison.hargreaves@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenous literatures and theory; critical settler colonial studies; place-based approaches to literary and cultural studies; decolonization and reconciliation as discourse and material practice.

Rachelle Hole | Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC), Faculty of Health and Social Development, Social Work | rachelle.hole@ubc.ca

Research interests: Rachelle’s research programme is informed by two complementary streams: 1) a substantial focus on the socio-cultural practices that promote social inclusion and equity, and 2) a methodological focus on community based participatory research methods. Critical disability studies is central to the first stream informing Rachelle’s research in the area of community living and intellectual disability.

Donna Kurtz | School of Nursing | donna.kurtz@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenous Health and Wellness Traditional and Western; Decolonizing Strength-based Approaches; Qualitative research; Cultural Safety education and practice

Gabrielle Legault | Indigenous Studies | gabrielle.legault@ubc.ca

Research interests: Métis in British Columbia; Métis history, identity and nationalism; Indigenous Identity and Representation; Place Identity; Decolonization; Inter-Indigenous Relations and Treaties; Critical Indigenous Studies; Indigenous geographies.

John Lyon | Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF) | john.lyon@ubc.ca

Research interests: Interior Salish Languages; Language Documentation and Revitalization; Salish Linguistics

Jeffrey More | Social Work | jeffrey.more@ubc.ca

Research interests: Jeffrey integrates his research and teaching to provide optimum learning experiences for students. Ultimately, his research contributions intend to support the search for practice excellence in inclusive clinical social work, child protection and work with Indigenous peoples and communities. Informing anti-colonial practice is significant to his research interests.

Astrida Neimanis | English and Cultural Studies, Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies | astrida.neimanis@ubc.ca

Research interests: Feminist studies (with a focus on embodiment, ecofeminisms, material feminisms and intersectionality), environmental studies (with a focus on cultural studies of water, weather and climate change, and multispecies justice), everyday militarisms, interdisciplinarity, epistemologies and non-traditional research methodologies.

Elena Nicoladis l Psychology l elena.nicoladis@ubc.ca
Research interests: Bilingual first language learning; second language learning; gestures

Benjamin Ramirez | Indigenous Studies | ben.ramirez@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenous Survivance; Decolonization; Indigenous ways of knowing and being; Ojibwe knowledge; Indigenous Gender Identities and settler colonization.

Christine Schreyer | Anthropology | christine.schreyer@ubc.ca
Research interests: linguistic anthropology; First Nations language and culture; land claims and Aboriginal Title; ethnolinguistics, ethnohistory, social memory, oral history, landscape and traditional land use studies; works with First Nations communities on language issues such as language maintenance and revitalization of endangered languages.

Emily Snyder | Sociology | emily.snyder@ubc.ca

Research interests: Socio-legal studies; social inequalities; gender, sexuality, and law; HIV criminalization; Indigenous laws and legal issues; connections between health and law.

Shannon Ward | Anthropology | shannon.ward@ubc.ca

Research interests: Linguistic Anthropology; language acquisition and socialization; language shift and endangerment; children and childhood; greater Tibetan and Himalayan communities.

Tania Willard | Creative Studies, Visual Arts | tania.willard@ubc.ca
Research interests: Visual Arts, Indigenous contemporary art, Indigenous languages, contemporary art, relational aesthetics, socially engaged practice, curatorial.

Shawn Wilson | Indigenous Studies | shawn.wilson@ubc.ca

Research interests: Indigenist Methodologies; Social-Emotional Wellbeing; Culture and Health

Jeannette Armstrong

Both an educator and protector, Jeannette Armstrong is a professor of Indigenous Studies and a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy

Jeannette Armstrong

Both an educator and protector, Jeannette Armstrong is a professor of Indigenous Studies and a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy

Tania Willard

Visual artist and Assistant Professor Tania Willard fuses art and advocacy through her annual Orange Shirt Day installation

Tania Willard

Visual artist and Assistant Professor Tania Willard fuses art and advocacy through her annual Orange Shirt Day installation

Students & Thesis

The Indigenous Knowledges theme cares about the experiential learning and well-being of our students, and about fostering their academic and research excellence. Indigenous philosophies provide us with ways of engaging with our world that promote holistic wellbeing. The Indigenous Knowledges theme encourages students to maintain connections with their home communities while building new connections within the program.

Indigenous Knowledge is highly contextual and developed within local community and Land, yet also allows for the emergence of understanding of complex international/global issues.

As Indigenous Knowledges can be applied across a vast array of interdisciplinary fields of study, the Indigenous Knowledges theme encourages graduate students to become well-rounded scholars, educators, and public intellectuals. During their degree, students will have the opportunity to conduct original research, learn to become effective educators, and work as Teaching Assistants, as well as acquire knowledge in the professional practices of writing for publication, academic CV development, grant writing, networking, and community-engaged research skills.

Students may participate in initiatives on the UBCO campus such as the Summer Indigenous Art Intensive, and internationally through working with collaborating faculty from different Indigenous nations globally. Students will learn valuable skills and while receiving the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world.

The issues facing Indigenous communities, and the Land itself, are incredibly complex.  For example, addressing global climate change will require working together with community, researchers, policy maker and the Land.  The Indigenous Knowledges theme engages in and supports research and creative activity, ensuring that our students and faculty members are given the necessary support to make significant scholarly contributions to their communities and society as a whole. We draw upon a robust, interdisciplinary network of Elders and faculty experts in research and pedagogy to support, mentor, and train graduate students in the pursuit of research, knowledge creation and application in ways that will help ensure that we as humans, maintain our accountability to all our relations.

To examine the work of previous UBC Okanagan graduate students, search on cIRcle, the University’s digital repository for research and teaching materials.

Admission Requirements

Admission to UBC graduate programs is competitive. Applicants must meet the following criteria.

MASTER OF ARTS (MA) APPLICANTS 

Applicants to the master’s program are expected to hold:

  • the academic equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from UBC, with a B+ (76%) average or better in their third- or fourth-year classes, or
  • at least 12 credits in third- and fourth-year classes in their intended field of study, with an A (80%) or better average.

Applicant background training must be sufficient for advanced work in their chosen field.

DOCTORAL (PHD) APPLICANTS 

PhD applicants will normally have a master’s degree in a related field, with a B+ (76%) average or better, and clear evidence of research ability or potential. Applicant background training must be sufficient for advanced work in their chosen field.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar* for full admission and program requirements information. The calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct. 

MASTER OF ARTS (MA) APPLICANTS 

Applicants to the master’s program are expected to:

  • hold the academic equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree from UBC
  • demonstrate superior academic standing

Applicant background training must be sufficient for advanced work in their chosen field.

Applicants from a university outside Canada at which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to graduate studies are listed in the Academic Calendar.

DOCTORAL (PHD) APPLICANTS 

PhD applicants are expected to hold the academic equivalent of a two-year master’s degree from UBC in a related field and to demonstrate superior academic standing. Applicant background training must be sufficient for advanced work in their chosen field.

Applicants from a university outside Canada at which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to graduate studies are listed in the Academic Calendar.

MORE INFORMATION

Visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar* for full admission and program requirements information. The calendar is a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.

Required Grades and Credential Guide

Grades and degree credentials required by UBC vary by country. Search the Required Grades and Credential Guide—a guide to assist international students in estimating their eligibility.

International Advisors

An international student advisor can answer questions about immigration, medical insurance and the transition to UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC. Visit the Global Engagement Office’s website to meet the team.

Tuition & Funding

Tuition

Tuition amounts presented here are estimates only and all fees are subject to change. For official tuition amounts and fee information, visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar*, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the University of British Columbia.

Program Schedule Domestic (per year) International (per year)
MSc/MA Full-time $5,407.56 $9,500.19
PhD Full-time $5,407.56 $9,500.19

Tuition is paid three times a year at the beginning of each term, as per the Academic Calendar: Winter Term 1, Winter Term 2, and Summer Term.

* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct. 

Funding Opportunities

Graduate student stipends are funded through a combination of internal and external funding awards, Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships.

Although funding and stipend amounts are not guaranteed, UBC’s Okanagan campus has a number of assistantships available for qualified students. Talk to your potential supervisor about funding opportunities.

Students are expected whenever possible to apply for relevant scholarships and fellowships.

Teaching Assistantships (TA)

Paid TA positions allow graduate students to develop skills in teaching, supervision, facilitation, and student assessment. Teaching assistants may lead seminars, help teach undergraduate courses, or assist in student evaluations and marking. Teaching assistants are mentored by their supervisor and via the Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Research Assistantships (RA)

As paid research assistants, graduate students assist their supervisor or other researchers in conducting high-level research, which often contributes to the student’s thesis. RAs are typically funded by the supervisor’s external grants, contracts, and sometimes, other sources of funding.

UBC Awards

The College of Graduate Studies administers merit-based graduate awards at the Okanagan campus. The College manages a number of award competitions each year and administers payment of all internal awards and selected external awards.

External Awards

All prospective graduate students (Domestic and International) should explore and apply for external awards and fellowships, including awards offered by Canada’s three research councils: CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

Graduate scholarships and awards may also be available from foundations, private companies or foreign governments (check with your country’s education authority).

How to Apply

Find a Supervisor

Please contact prospective supervisors before starting an application. Admission to the program requires the support of a faculty supervisor, as well as meeting program-specific criteria for admission requirements.

A complete application package will contain:

  • Online application and application fee
  • Unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended are required for the application package, however, if admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies.
  • Statement of Intent
  • English language test (for non-native speakers of English)
  • CV or resumé
  • Two letters of reference (applicants may submit the online application form at any time during the call for applications – doing so triggers the invitation to referees – and continue to upload supporting documents until the deadline.)
  • Please provide one example of your scholarly writing, such as a term paper or a substantial scholarly paper AND/OR submit electronic portfolio of artistic work (3-5 samples of artistic production and/or links to digital work).

Applying takes time. Students are advised to start the application process two months in advance of the application deadline.

For full consideration, students should submit all application materials by the following deadlines:

Intake Application Deadline
Domestic applicants
September January 15
International applicants
September January 15

Applicants who wish to enter the program in the second semester of the academic year or in the summer semester should consult with the theme coordinator to determine if accommodation is possible.

Apply to UBC today!

UBC's Okanagan Campus

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. At UBC’s Okanagan campus, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.

DYNAMIC CITY

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of about 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

NATURAL BEAUTY

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Check out this 360-degree video: Kelowna From Above (best viewed using desktop Chrome or Firefox or YouTube’s mobile app).

CAMPUS HOUSING

Full-time UBC Okanagan students can live in residence, which offers modern living with easy access to academic and personal support. Residences are surrounded by hiking and biking trails, plus panoramic views of the campus and valley.

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

* UBC does not verify or endorse information shared on this third-party website, which is offered here as a public resource only.

College of Graduate Studies: CoGS offers orientation events to support you in your first steps as a graduate student at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

Stay active: Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and play—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness and Wellness Centre and our 1,561 square-metre gymnasium, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and nationally ranked varsity athletics. Have a ball in Sports and Recreation.

Relax: The Graduate Collegium is a gathering place where grad students can hang out, eat lunch, spend time with their fellow students, and attend or host special events. The lounge-style room is open seven days and week and is outfitted with comfortable furniture, kitchen facilities, and individual and group-work spaces.

College of Graduate Studies: Your hub for administrative support and such things as graduate workshops for professional development and for assisting you from the admissions process through to your graduation.

Centre for Scholarly Communication: Supports graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty in disseminating their research. The Library’s CSC provides one-on-one consultations and workshops, including writing support for theses, dissertations, journal articles, and grant proposals.

Centre for Teaching and Learning: Provides support related to teaching, TA training, and use of technology in educational programming.

Indigenous Programs and Services: Indigenous Programs and Services (IPS) offers services from the time of application to graduation for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students.  IPS has an Indigenous Graduate Advisor who provides advising support, plans programming and hosts events to build community among Indigenous Graduate students studying at UBC Okanagan.