The Gathering Place
We feel the Gathering Place is critical to building and strengthening relationships in the wider Indigenous community that the college serves including partner governments, Indigenous post-secondary institutions, community service providers and our students.
The Gathering Place is a space, which is dedicated to the promotion of Indigenous culture, tradition and ceremony. Selkirk College supports the priority for the college to expand access and opportunity for diverse learners, particularly Indigenous communities and families. It was created with the vision of a better college for Indigenous learners, of the connection between celebrating culture and of increasing access to post-secondary education.
Book time at the Gathering Place.
Learn more about our 2012 Selkirk College Indigenous Report.
Collaborative Partnerships in Building the Gathering Place
Selkirk College raised $150,000 in a Complete the Circle campaign along with our partners who share in our commitment. In support, we have received $600,000 from the Provincial Government's Gathering Places Capital Fund, $200,000 from Columbia Basin Trust and $50,000 from Teck Metals.
On June 2012, Carol Vanelli Worosz, Communications Manager for Teck Metals accepted a hand crafted metal art sculpture commissioned from BC Indigenous artist, Clint George, by Selkirk College in recognition of Teck’s $50,000 donation in support of the Gathering Place. Learn more about Teck Metals Support.
Grand Opening to Community
On May 24, 2012 we celebrated the official opening of the Gathering Place with over 100 invited guests in attendance including members of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Metis Nation of BC and the Sinixt Nation Society.
Various speakers representing Indigenous governments, spoke of the critical need to make post-secondary education more accessible, welcoming, and respectful of Indigenous learners and their cultures, since participation in higher education improves capacity building across the board.