Indigenous Students

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems is honoured to exist on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, the Halq’eméylem speaking Coast Salish people, including the Sto:lo and the Seabird Island First Nation, and the many territories our work and research is conducted on.

As a faculty deeply connected to the natural world, we recognize the need to balance our existing food systems and approach human and animal interaction through a more compassionate and caring lens. We recognize that the work we do and the way we teach matters.

At LFS, we are committed to engaging in meaningful reconciliation and maintaining active partnerships with Indigenous communities. We recognize the need to strengthen our existing relationships while fostering new connections and learning from those with knowledge to pass down. 

Connect with an Advisor

Our dedicated Indigenous Academic Advisor, Jordan Scansen, is available to meet confidentially with future and current LFS students. Jordan can help you choose your program, plan your courses, make the most of your UBC experience and support you through any challenges that might affect your studies.

Get in touch with Jordan at jordan.scansen@ubc.ca.

Indigenous Initiatives

LFS recognizes and incorporates essential Indigenous knowledge around major food system issues including nutrition, fisheries, food security, land managements, wildlife and range management and food preservation and production. And we continue to support, incorporate and expand Indigenous learning and self-determination throughout our programs.  

The on-campus UBC Farm actively supports Indigenous spaces and initiatives. This includes the Indigenous Health Research and Education Garden (IHREG)––traditional Musqueam name xʷc̓ic̓əsəm––where Indigenous knowledge is profiled and researched in connection with other forms of understanding. 

Our Land, Food and Community (LFC) series comprises core courses where students work directly with the wider community on food-related themes. Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are a key aspect of these core courses, including LFS 250, LFS 350 and LFS 450. Additionally, LFS 340 explores Indigenous medical systems and plants, bridging to modern and traditional scientific approaches.  

UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan is a multi-year, multifaceted initiative that actively supports Indigenous human rights via a series of vital goals and practical actions. In addition, LFS has implemented its own bold Action Plan that elevates and incorporates Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. 

Developed jointly by LFS and the Faculty of Applied Science, our self-directed Weaving Relations course enables students to explore and understand Indigenous contexts around issues of Canada’s settler colonialism––while also looking to build the foundations for a better and more equitable future. 

LFS has created a series of essential modules under its LFS ROOTS (Reach Out, Orientation, Transition & Study Skills) initiative. These online courses help prepare students for their studies and include a dedicated module introducing Indigenous students to their on-campus resources as well as a comprehensive “Why We Wear Orange” module for all students that provide essential contexts for Canada’s annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.  

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