Indigenous Counsellor
In January 2022, the counselling department increased its capacity by hiring an Indigenous Counsellor.
Riel Dupuis-Rossi, (MA, MSW, RSW), is an Indigenous therapist of Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk), Algonquin, and Italian descent. Riel grew up in their traditional territories in Hamilton, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec. Since 2011, Riel has been providing decolonizing and culturally-centred trauma therapy to Indigenous individuals, couples, families, and groups in the sovereign, unceded and occupied Homelands of the Squamish, Tsleil Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. Riel has also designed and delivered educational training on Indigenous cultural safety and provided clinical consultation for allied healthcare staff working with Indigenous peoples within the healthcare system. Riel has had the good honour of publishing in academic journals, nationally and internationally, with a focus on decolonizing trauma therapy and on disrupting current colonial practices and structures in the healthcare system, the immigration sector and in non-profit organizations. Riel earned a Master of Arts in Educational Studies from McGill University and a Master of Social Work from California State University Los Angeles.
Riel is honoured to have been welcomed into the Indigenous Counsellor role at Capilano University and is committed to fulfilling this most important responsibility by centering the care, support, affirmation and uplift of Indigenous students and ways in Coast Salish Homelands. Nia:wen (thank you). All My Relations!
To see Riel, you can make an appointment by calling 604 -984- 1744, emailing counselling@capilanou.ca or booking online.
Indigenous Resources at the Capilano University Library
The University has created an Indigenous Resources page on their website with lots of great info.
Indigenous Student Supports
There are many Indigenous student supports at Capilano University. There is a First Nations student handbook that includes information about programs, admission, health, and housing. This handbook offers a lot of information about being an Indigenous student at Capilano University. There are mental health, academic, and spiritual supports available at the Kéwxusm-áyakn student centre.
Capilano University offers a selection of Indigenous programs. For financial support, there are financial aid advisors available to navigate the cost of post-secondary education.
Please refer to the linked resources below for more information.
Indigenous Projects
Capilano University has taken some steps in the spirit of truth and reconciliation regarding Indigenous peoples. For the university's 50th anniversary, they commissioned a Coast Salish canoe. In 2019, the canoe was named Skw’cháys and presented to the public. The university has implemented signs for the buildings in the Indigenous language of a nation that the university resides on. An example is the name of the Maple building, q̓əmel̓eɬp, selected by the Tseil-Watuth nation. There is an annual truth and reconciliation week organized by the university. The university's truth and reconciliation week honours the strength, culture, and perseverance of Indigenous peoples.
Please refer to the linked resources below for more information.
Kéxwusm-áyakn student centre
The Kéxwusm-áyakn student centre name translates to “a place to meet," and is an important gathering space for all Indigenous students at Capilano University that features access support services intentionally designed for Indigenous students and the university's Elder-in-residence program. For more information about the centre, check out our page in this resource on the Kéwxusm-ayakn student centre.