Welcome to Nadleh Whut'en

Chiefs, Leaders and Project Leads,

We are pleased to share that the University of BC and the Musqueam Indian Band (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) will be co-instructing a 10-day training course on the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in June 2023. This training course will occur over a two-week period:

• June 12th-16th – In-Person Training (in Vancouver)

• June 19th-23rd – Online Training (via Zoom)

We ask that you register for the training course here byt contacting Terry Lynn at tluggi@nadleh.ca

Purpose:

The purpose of this training course is to provide capacity and guidance to lead communities who wish to use GPR in the location and protection of unmarked and undocumented burials associated with the sites of former Indian Residential Schools and Indian Hospitals in BC. Please know that you do not require specialized experience or expertise to take this training. This is a foundational training intended to provide project leads, archaeologists, researchers and/or cultural advisors with more information about the potential application of GPR.

Background:

This training course builds on the training co-developed and previously delivered by the University of BC and Musqueam Indian Band (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm). You can find more information on the training here: https://indigenousscience.ubc.ca/ground-penetrating-radar-gpr-partnership-between-musqueam-and-ubc/gpr-course-indigenous-communities. We will provide a more detailed outline of the course closer to the date.

Costs:

There is no cost to take this training.

As there is significant interest in GPR training, this course will only be open to those First Nations and Tribal Councils who have been identified as the lead community or coordinating body for site-specific work such as conducting surveys on the sites of former Indian Residential Schools and Indian Hospitals in BC.

The costs of travel, accommodation, and meals will be covered for at least 1 representative from each lead community for the in-person portion of the training the week of June 12th-16th, 2023. Please note that representatives will be responsible for booking their own travel and accommodations.  

As space is limited, we ask that lead communities select 1 representative to attend the training course. We will re-assess closer to the date to see if we can accommodate additional representatives from lead communities.

Acknowledgement:

We acknowledge and thank the University of BC, Musqueam Indian Band, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations & Northern Affairs Canada for their contributions to offer this training opportunity.

Thank you,

Provincial Team