The subject matter in this message is upsetting. The following support services are available. 

Students

• The First Nations Centre (Roxanne Umpherville, Aboriginal Student Life Navigator at 250-960-5010) and UNBC Counselling Services (250-960-6369) provide programming and support. 
• UNBC students can also access Here2Talk, a 24/7 counselling and community referral service.

Employees

• UNBC employees can access the Employee and Family Assistance Program at 1-800-663-1142 for 24/7 access to confidential, professional counselling services. 

Good morning,

Today marks the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Last week, in the lead-up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, UNBC hosted multiple events that signal our commitment to Reconciliation and doing more as a community to support that journey.

Yet today’s designation is a reminder that the act of Reconciliation is not a “day” or “a week” of action; it requires renewed commitments from each of us, every day, to learn, reflect and act.

According to the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, “Indigenous women are at least 5.5 times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women. Factors that play a significant role in this horrific statistic include: colonial policies - residential schools, 60’s Scoop, forced relocation, proximity to work camps, racism, historical and ongoing trauma, and social-economic disparities. In addition, emerging data and reports have shown violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people have increased during the pandemic.”

To learn more, I encourage you to read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. You can also read the National Action Plan, and  an excellent list of additional resources is available on the UNBC Geoffrey R. Weller Library website.

In addition to the resources listed above, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line is available to provide emotional support and crisis referral services to individuals impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. Call the toll-free Crisis Line at 1-844-413-6649. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thank you,

Geoff Payne
UNBC President and Vice-Chancellor