- Good morning everyone and thank you for coming out today.
- As you may know, until now, UBC has marked National Indigenous Peoples Day by temporarily raising the flag of its host First Nation in place of the university’s flag.
- Last Fall, we raised the flag of the Okanagan Nation Alliance permanently at the UBC Okanagan campus. Today, we will do the same for the Musqueam Band here at the UBC Vancouver campus.
- Each campus sits on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of its host nation: Musqueam in Vancouver, and the Syilx Okanagan Nation in the Okanagan.
- The flags formally signify UBC’s recognition of Indigenous peoples in whose lands the university resides, and will add to a growing visible Indigenous presence on both campuses that includes bilingual signs providing alternate street names.
- The UBC Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional territory of the Musqueam. Flying the flag of the Musqueam Indian Band permanently on campus will be a constant reminder of UBC’s relationship and ongoing partnership with the Musqueam people. It reflects our long-term commitment to the Musqueam Indian Band and our vision of solidarity moving forward.
- I am honoured and humbled that we have been joined today by Musqueam representatives and that the flag will be raised by two Musqueam UBC students.
- Thank you.