The early signs of spring have begun popping up across campus. For those getting in their social steps for Walk for Joy, or just out for a stroll in the sun, consider passing by tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ (The Houses of the Ones Belonging to the Saltwater). tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ is a student residence on the north end of campus. A number of plants with cultural significance for xʷməθkʷəy̓əm were planted at tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ, with signage installed to provide the UBC community with information about them. 

You can learn more about those plants, including how to pronounce their names in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ by visiting this website.  

This session is designed to assist in competency and capacity building around cultures of belongingness, affect in the classroom, and engaging diverse communities through principles of inclusivity and psychological safety in the classroom. This session will be grounded in the foundational principles of anti-racism, to facilitate learning and discussion about the framework of psychological safety. As we move through the session, participants will develop tips, tricks, and tools to identify, assess/measure, and plan for psychological safety proactively and iteratively in your classroom climate. By the end of this session, it is hoped participants will be able to differentiate a psychologically safe learning environment focused on fostering belongingness from learning environments that may unintentionally foster racial harm.  

Date: February 26, 2025
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Room 302

Classroom Climate is a commonly used framework within teaching and learning spaces, but what do we really mean when referring to this term across different disciplines and learning environments? Join us for an introductory session on how we unpack Classroom Climate within the context of UBC and an opportunity to discuss with colleagues on ways to foster a positive and supportive Classroom Climate. We will have the opportunity to dive deeper in Complicating the Classroom Climate Framework and share elements in building a supportive classroom climate.   

Date: March 24, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: Irving K Barber Learning Centre, Room 2.22

We welcome you to attend one of CTLT Indigenous Initiatives’ monthly Virtual Coffee Hours. They are an informal space to connect with consultants on the team and other colleagues across the university. Some common topics that come up include:  

• Professional development plans for individuals, teams, and departments  
• Engaging with the Indigenous Strategic Plan
• Fostering a respectful classroom and campus climate
• Connecting with a network of people across the university
• Locating relevant resources
• Meaningful land acknowledgements

…and more!

Upcoming Dates: 

• February 25, 2026
• March 26, 2026
• April 23, 2026

The third event of the ‘Living Archives’ series explores the presence of archives as records of individuals and communities. 

In her collection Always Italicise: How to Write While Colonized, Māori scholar and poet Alice Te Punga Somerville writes of love, anger, and alienation in a collection that dismantles the convention of italicizing foreign words. Poems intricately explore how individuals, cultures, and objects belonging to Aotearoa, wider Pacific, and Indigenous peoples are seen and treated in spaces such as archives and workplaces. Furthermore, Te Punga Somerville’s project ‘Writing the New World’ explores Indigenous engagements with periodicals in the twentieth-century Pacific, and the different forms that archives can take.

Date: March 10, 2026
Time: 5:00pm - 6:20pm
Location: Online

Happy February Teaching and Learning Family. The month of February brings us much to celebrate and to observe! Happy Black History Month (BHM)! And a wish of peaceful and blessed Ramadan to those who observe! BHM is dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the significant contributions of diasporic Black people across the globe. The holy month of Ramadan is an opportunity to respect and learn about the spiritual and physical resilience rooted in Muslim culture. 

Some may not know the rich tapestry and connection between African heritage and Muslim traditions; both emphasizing reflection, justice, and community strength with a deep reverence for spirituality. If interested in learning about this deep history, we encourage you to take a peek at the following collection story on African Muslims in Early America by the National Museum of African America History: African Muslins in Early America . We also encourage you to learn about Ramadan and how to best support your fellow colleagues and students through this quick guide, designed by UBC EIO: The EIO's Quick Guide to Ramadan.

With so much on and off campus to support and celebrate regarding BHM and Ramadan, we encourage you to attend events, learn more through arts and educational materials, and support those with the Black and Muslim community! What’s going on for BHM and Ramadan at UBC? 

• Black Excellence in Stem Speakers Series
• UBC BHM Events
• UBC Ramadan Events

• Feb 26th, 2026, from 10am-12pm Measuring and Fostering Psychological Safety in the Classroom through the Lens of Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning, a Classroom Climate Collaboration! 
• Fill out this survey for a chance to win a $20.00 gift card to Loafe: Access the A-RTL Survey Here! 

Indigenous communities have always governed our own knowledge. Colonial systems disrupted that work. #DataBack Day is about learning ways to centre Indigenous data sovereignty in your work. Join us for a day of conversation, learning, and connection with leading voices in Indigenous data sovereignty. Whether you're a community data manager, a researcher, a leader exploring what data governance could look like for your Nation, or simply curious about the movement, this day is for you. We’re welcoming Indigenous organizations, academics and anyone who holds Indigenous data.

Date: February 20, 2026
Time: 9:00am
Location: Online

This workshop offers a brief but meaningful reflection on disability rights through an Indigenous lens, drawing from traditional Nɬeʔkepmx ecological knowledge. It challenges Western deficit-based models and affirms the strength, knowledge, and interdependence of all community members, including those living with disabilities. Participants will gain insight into how Indigenous knowledge systems hold space for diverse bodies, minds, and spirits, and how this informs a decolonial approach to accessibility in post-secondary spaces.

Sue Sterling-Bur is a member of the Nłeʔkepmx and Stó:lō Nations and sits with the Duntem’yoo (Bear) Clan in Bahlats with Nadleh Whut’en from the Carrier Sekani Nation. She is a strong advocate for the advancement of Indigenous Rights and educational opportunities for all.

Date: February 26, 2026
Time: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Location: Online

Dancers of Damelahamid, in partnership with MOA and the Anvil Centre, present the 19th annual Coastal Dance Festival. The Festival is a celebration of the stories, songs and dances of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast with guest national and international artists.

Date: March 3-8
Location: The Anvil Centre & The Museum of Anthropology

Treaty making is older than Canada. Given the boundless scale, scope, and inter-dimensionality of Indigenous-led treaties, how can they be represented on a map? Explore version 2.0 of the Treaty Map and download the accompanying Education Guide.