Cultural Safety

Thompson Rivers University is dedicated to Indigenous student success, to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and to promoting Indigenous knowledge and scholarship.

Through collaboration, innovation, respect and humility, the university fosters a welcoming environment that is grounded in the principles of reconciliation and is able to address the calls to action placed on everyone in this country.

Traditional Secwépemc (Shuswap) Territory

Kamloops and Williams Lake campuses are both situated on the traditional and unceded Secwépemc (Shuswap) territory.

We acknowledge and give honour to the Secwépemc — the ancestral peoples who have lived here for thousands of years — upon whose traditional and unceded land Thompson Rivers University is located. The Secwépemc maintain a spiritual and practical relationship to the land, water, air, animals, plants and all things needed for life on Mother Earth. It is with that in mind that we owe this debt of gratitude.

There are approximately 7,000 Secwépemc people in the territory, which spans 180,000 square kilometres through the interior plateau of south central British Columbia. The mountain ranges, grasslands and river valleys surrounding the Fraser, and North and South Thompson rivers create the boundaries of the territory.

TRU has one of the largest Indigenous student populations among BC post-secondary institutions, with well over 2,000 students (about 10 percent), representing 16 First Nation and Indigenous peoples enrolled in new, continuing, open learning and trades programs.

In addition to Secwépemc students, Indigenous students at TRU come from several BC nations, including the Carrier, Okanagan, Nuxalk, and Nlaka'pamux, as well as students of Métis and Inuit ancestry.

Indigenous Strategic Plan

TRU has begun to implement its Indigenous Strategic Plan, taking a leading role in the advancement of Indigenous peoples’ human rights.This strategic plan outlinines six goals and more than 10 specific actions that collectively propel TRU towards its vision of becoming a global leader in championing the implementation of Indigenous peoples' human rights.

One key facet of the Indigenous Strategic Plan involves active engagement with local communities, Elders, and knowledge keepers, who serve as invaluable resources, guides, and partners in the realms of faculty, staff, and student learning. By fostering meaningful connections with these stakeholders, TRU seeks to create an environment that not only respects but also integrates Indigenous perspectives into every facet of academic and institutional life. Concurrently, building a comprehensive repository of Indigenous resources for teaching and learning, providing materials that contribute to a more inclusive curriculum.

In alignment with the plan's objectives, TRU is committed to enhancing Indigenous practice placement and research opportunities.

The Strategic Plan is a product of collaboration, shaped with input from diverse voices, including students, faculty, and staff across both campuses. Importantly, Indigenous students, faculty, and staff, along with Indigenous community partners, played a pivotal role in the plan's development.