University of Victoria

Community-engaged projects guided by indigenous world views

Institution

University of Victoria

Region

North America

COuntry

Canada

founding year

1963

student body

22020

Website

Institutional Approach

The University of Victoria takes a whole-institute approach to sustainability, with several innovative and expansive approaches developed with specific attention to fostering indigenous world views. Sustainability, indigenous reconciliation and equity are embedded in the university's over-arching strategic framework, with strong circular campus approaches. In their Sustainability Action Plan, 2030, Victoria lays out 3 targets, 10 initiatives and 11 over-arching goals for university and community-wide sustainability. An indigenous task force developed the specific goals for the action plan with the following ethos: “Through an ethic of climate justice, decolonization, reciprocity and generosity, our goal is to go beyond standard practices of sustainability toward abundance, which entails giving back more than is taken.” They aim imbue indigenous world views into all aspects of university life, starting with transforming the relationship between individuals and campus waters and lands. The unifying ‘Seedling Project’ serves as a symbol for the university’s sustainability commitment: they will plant and nurture a giant red wood cedar tree, and commit to carving it into a totem when the tree is mature in 600-1000 years. Educationally, a particular focus is put on dynamic and experiential learning via Living Labs projects, field courses, and community service requirements. Finally, Victoria has the world's first Indigenous Law program, which blends Canadian constitutional law with governance practice from First Nations across Canada.

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