The newly renovated Shq'apthut (a gathering place) building at VIU's campus offers a space for ceremonial and support services for Indigenous students. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Shq'apthut

Newly renovated gathering place at VIU offers support and community for Indigenous students

Aug 29, 2024 | 4:16 PM

NANAIMO — An expanded and updated gathering space at Vancouver Island University (VIU) is now available for Indigenous students.

Located in the Shq’apthut (a gathering place) building on campus, the upgraded space includes a ceremonial area, an Elder-in-residence office, and upgrades to the existing kitchen and universally accessible washrooms.

Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson said this building adds to VIU’s commitment of fostering a supportive environment for First Nation students.

“We already know how well it works for them to have navigators, students that have already made it through the system and come from a First Nations background. They care for each other, look after each other. Kind of like an older cousin or big sister to help you through being away from home.”

A newly built cedar longhouse located inside the Shq’apthut building on VIU’s campus. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The province provided $3.8 million in support of the $4.2 million project, with VIU contributing the remainder.

Renovations were first announced in April 2022.

This new space hopes to address the need for cultural spaces on campus as VIU’s Indigenous student enrollment continues to increase, with 12 per cent of their total student population identifying as Indigenous.

“When anybody walks into this beautiful cedar longhouse that’s built right inside the gathering place, they’ll see this is going to combat isolation, the sadness and sometimes depression that students have when they’re away from home for the very first time,” Malcolmson told NanaimoNewsNOW. “This is a place where people are going to be looked after.”

Indigenous student representative with the VIU students union Leah Vaisanen said Shq’apthut is the place on campus where they know they will always feel safe and comforted.

“I knew I could always go there to get the support I needed. If you’re feeling lonely, there’s always someone there to say hello to. Having a ceremonial space is going to bring culture back to campus….elders play such a huge role in our campus experience and knowing the support is there is a comfort to many Indigenous students.”

(L-R) Representatives from VIU Brittany Salmon, Lyn Clark, Heather Burke, Kerry Erickson, Lillian Morton, and MLA Sheila Malcolmson outside the Shq’apthut building at VIU on Thursday, Aug. 29. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Minister of post-secondary education and future skills Lisa Beare said in a news release this space will help promote and celebrate Indigenous cultural, along with promoting academic, recreational, and social activities.

“These spaces are supporting the learning experiences of Indigenous students and positively impacting the university community as a whole. We are thrilled to help VIU in providing a space that welcomes students to come together, learn and reflect on their identities.”

Updates to the Shq’apthut building’s exterior and landscaping work are scheduled for completion in the spring of 2025, and will “celebrate and honour Indigenous culture,” according to a VIU release. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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