Allow me to extend a warm welcome to you as you join our Selkirk College learning community. Let me begin by saying that we are committed to reconciliation and Indigenization, and are grateful to the Sinixt, Sylix, Ktunaxa and Secwépmec Peoples on whose traditional territories our campuses and learning centres operate. We are thankful to work with an engaged and proud Métis community who make the West Kootenay and Boundary regions their home. We honour and celebrate the values, cultures and ways of knowing that all Indigenous learners bring to Selkirk College.
Post-secondary success at Selkirk College requires a community that cultivates relationships, culture, a sense of belonging, empowerment and opportunity. Our understanding of community includes respect and support for Indigenous learners and their families.
A formative part of my career was spent in Indigenous communities in Ontario and all three territories. Over the last three decades, I have learned how to support the important work toward a more diverse landscape in higher education. When I arrived at Selkirk College in the spring of 2022, it was inspiring to become part of a college community that works hard at strengthening partnerships with First Nation and Métis communities. The college’s Indigenization Plan 2019–2024 continues to guide our efforts to decolonize and Indigenize programs.
All of our faculty and staff make every student a priority, and we also have an Indigenous Services team to help guide students through their post-secondary journey. Our colleagues in the Student Access & Support and Financial Aid departments are also there to help you succeed.
We’re looking forward to having you as part of the Selkirk College community!
Maggie Matear
Selkirk College President