2012 - 2017 Relationship Agreement W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College Acknowledgement of Territory Camosun College campuses are situated on the traditional territories of the W̱ SÁNEĆ, Lkwungen, and Esquimalt peoples. This agreement pertains to the relationship with the W̱ SÁNEĆ, whose friendship and welcome is valued and honoured by Camosun College. The W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board (W̱ SB) was formed in 1972. The W̱ SB provides educational services to the W̱ SÁNEĆ people, inclusive of the SȽEȽEMW̱ Child Development Centre, the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Elementary, the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ High School, and the W̱ SÁNEĆ Adult Education Centre. The W̱ SB is governed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of four communities: the elected W̱ SÁNEĆ Chief and Councils of Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, and Tseycum. The area of the W̱ SB that works most closely with Camosun College is the W̱ SÁNEĆ Adult Education Centre (W̱ AEC), although other departments of the W̱ SB may develop partnerships with Camosun College. Partners W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board 7449 West Saanich Road Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1R3 www.wsanecschoolboard.ca Camosun College 3100 Foul Bay Road Victoria, BC V8P 5J2 www.camosun.ca 2 Relationship Agreement 2012 - 2017 Camosun College (Camosun) is a public community college serving south Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It has been in operation since 1971 and has been working with the W̱ SB and specific W̱ SÁNEĆ communities for most of its existence. Camosun provides adult educational services to over 20,000 students, including approximately 1000 Aboriginal students. The Department of Aboriginal Education & Community Connections (AECC) and the School of Access work closely with W̱ SB, as do other Schools and departments who, from time to time, provide education programs and services at, and in partnership with, W̱ SB. W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College 3 Our Roles Camosun will: • Continue to provide a range of programming at the W̱ AEC as long as (a) there is a clear demand; (b) the W̱ SB wishes Camosun to do so, and (c) it is fiscally possible; • Involve W̱ SÁNEĆ elders or other cultural knowledge keepers in the curriculum delivered at the W̱ AEC; • Work collectively with the W̱ AEC to share the highlights of this agreement with Camosun students on site; • Provide regular Aboriginal Advisor support services to W̱ AEC students and other W̱ SÁNEĆ community members; • Engage with W̱ SB in the hiring of Camosun faculty who work primarily at the W̱ SB and in the evaluation of programs that are delivered on W̱ SB premises; W̱ SB will: • Provide space and context for community-based and community-focused learning; • Support Camosun to access W̱ SÁNEĆ elders or other cultural knowledge keepers to engage in Camosun programs offered at the W̱ AEC; • Work collectively with Camosun to share the highlights of this agreement with Camosun students on site; • Provide a safe and welcoming environment to Camosun students, staff, and faculty; • Provide community recruitment services for all Camosun programs hosted by the W̱ SB; Relationship Statement • We are committed to working together and, collectively, we honour our accountability to the students and communities we mutually serve. We work with good hearts and in the spirit of good will. We value our history together, which has been founded on developing relationships, mutual trust, and mutual respect. Encourage staff and faculty who work primarily at W̱ SB to engage in W̱ AEC, W̱ SB, and other community events and activities; • Fairly compensate the W̱ AEC for classroom rentals regularly used by Camosun; • Provide space for Aboriginal Advisors and other educational services providers from Camosun; • Work with the W̱ SB to collectively identify, develop, and seek funding for education/training programs deemed necessary for the communities the W̱ SB serves; and • Welcome W̱ SÁNEĆ and other Aboriginal students to study at the W̱ AEC; • Support Camosun students who study at the W̱ SB to access W̱ SB services, as possible; • Welcome Camosun staff and faculty who work primarily at the W̱ SB to participate in W̱ AEC, W̱ SB, and other community events and activities; • Work with Camosun to collectively identify, develop, and seek funding for education/training programs deemed necessary for the community the W̱ SB serves; and • Foster continuous collaboration with Camosun to establish and honour good and effective communication processes. Values We value relationships and collaboration. We share a commitment to and belief in the strength of communities. Together, through education, we support students to find their gifts and to nourish and share those gifts. We recognize and honour the place of culture within education. • Foster continuous collaboration with the W̱ SB to establish and honour good and effective communication processes. Commitments The W̱ SB and Camosun will work together to meet the educational and/or training needs of adult Aboriginal students who access our organizations for such services. This work will be collaborative and will honour the Aboriginal values of respect, reciprocity, responsibility, and relationship. Our work will promote growth, responsibility, knowledge and skills to students and will support the foundation for selfdetermination amongst the communities we mutually serve. 4 Relationship Agreement 2012 - 2017 W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College 5 Relationship Agreement This agreement will remain in place until either or both Camosun and the W̱ SB wish to change it. However, it will be reviewed and re-signed at least every five years at the instigation of the Relationship Agreement Committee. This agreement may be modified at any time by a subsequent agreement in writing, signed by the W̱ SB and Camosun. This agreement may be canceled at any time by either Camosun or the W̱ SB providing written intention to cancel after 60 days, following which time this agreement shall cease. Communication Partnership All communication required under this agreement will take place between W̱ SB and Camosun delegates. The following agreements support the ongoing partnership and relationship between the W̱ SB and Camosun: Any communication that will result in the the cancellation of this agreement must be sent by registered mail addressed: If to the W̱ SB: Camosun will ensure that the W̱ SB is adequately represented, by mutually agreed upon numbers, on its Aboriginal Advisory Council to the W̱ SB. The W̱ SB will assign the W̱ AEC Director and Post-Secondary Advisor, or delegates, to these seats. The W̱ SB and Camosun will establish a Relationship Agreement Committee which will meet two times a year, in May or June and November or December, to review and plan for education and training programs that are a part of, or emerge from, our partnership. W̱ SB representatives of this committee include the W̱ AEC Director, the W̱ SB Administrator, the W̱ SB Post-Secondary Advisor, or delegates, and any other community members designated by the W̱ SB. Camosun representatives include the AECC Director, the AECC Chair, the Instructional Assistant or Program Assistant assigned to Camosun/W̱ SB programs, and program or project leaders attached to these partnered programs. Additional meetings may be scheduled as necessary. Allan Claxton Curtis Olsen Chair, W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board Administrator, W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board 6 Relationship Agreement 2012 - 2017 Administrator President W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board Camosun College PO BOX 368 7449 West Saanich Road 3100 Foul Bay Road Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1R3 Victoria, BC V8P 5J2 Signatories Chair, W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board The W̱ AEC Director and AECC Chair will maintain an up-to-date Operational Manual. The College and the W̱ SB commit to communicate, as quickly as possible, concerns that could affect our partnership, communities, or the students we mutually serve. If to Camosun: Administrator, W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board Kathryn Laurin Sarah Loewen President, Camosun College Director, AECC President , Camosun College Director, Aboriginal Education & Community Connections Sue Saunders W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College 7 Appendices Camosun Board of Governors: Government Appointed Members Mr. Kyman Chan (Chair) Mr. Wayne Dalby Ms Lynda Farmer Mr. Russ Lazaruk Ms Margaret Lucas Mr. Scott Marshall Dr. Marilyn Pattison (Vice Chair) W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board, Board of Directors: Tsartlip First Nation Tsawout First Nation Pauquachin First Nation Chief Ivan Wayne Morris (Vice Chairman) Chief Harvey Underwood Chief Bruce Underwood Councillor Curtis Olsen Councillor Allan Claxton (Chairman) Councillor Herman Henry Councillor Gordon Elliot Councillor Louis Claxton Councillor Dawn Michelle-Williams Councillor Verna Ellsworth Councillor Toby Joseph Councillor Allan Tom Councillor William Morris Councillor George David Underwood Councillor Alec Sam Councillor Samantha Etzel Tseycum First Nation Councillor Joni Olsen Councillor Stanley Sam Chief Tanya Jones Councillor Paul Sam Councillor Tony Underwood Councillor Joe Bill Councillor Simon Smith Jr. Councillor Glenn Jim Councillor Philip Tom Mr. Tom Siemens Elected Members Ms Madeline Keller-Macleod, member elected by students Mr. Chris Marks, member elected by students Ms Janice Simcoe, member elected by the faculty Mr. Keith Todd, member elected by the support staff Ex Officio Ms Kathryn Laurin, President Ms Carly Hall, Chair, Education Council 8 Relationship Agreement 2012 - 2017 W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College 9 Camosun College Mission Statement We build a better tomorrow by providing outstanding and relevant learning experiences, valued credentials, and life-long student success. AECC Mission statement W̱ SB Mission Statement Our mission is to work in a life-long partnership with W̱ SÁNEĆ People to assure the continuing use of the SENĆOŦEN Language and the maintenance of the cultural identity of our Nation while giving students the knowledge, skills and attitudes as citizens to enable them to successfully meet the social economic and political challenges of life. W̱ AEC Mission Statement Our mission is to enhance educational opportunities for W̱ SÁNEĆ Nation adults living on and off reserve and in neighboring communities by offering courses and programs that are community based and driven and which link to the W̱ SÁNEĆ Nation’s longer range community development plans, to advance development, self-sufficiency and self-reliance. 10 Relationship Agreement 2012 - 2017 The aim of the staff and administration is to make every attempt to offer programs and services that reflect W̱ SÁNEĆ Nation traditions and values, and that are based on respect and an understanding of each person’s uniqueness and potential, always taking into account that the learner is an adult with a vast array of experiences and equal expertise to offer. It is our desire to include the SENĆOŦEN language and elders in our program delivery, whenever possible. Our mission is to engage in Aboriginal education, services, and leadership that enhances student learning and enriches relationships with communities. In short, our mission is to provide accessible, holistic programs preparing adult learners for higher education and vocational training, thus bridging them into other educational organizations and programs of their choice. W̱ SÁNEĆ School Board | Camosun College 11 Credits Writers: Kendra Underwood, W̱ SB Janice Simcoe, Camosun Graphic design: Caroline Mitic, Camosun Photography: Jason King and Allan Shook, AV Services, Camosun Alan Thurston Project coordination: Franklyn Roy, Access, Camosun Printshop Press Published January 2013