UVic to host new national aboriginal chair

The governments of Canada and British Columbia have announced their intention to support the establishment of a national chair on aboriginal economic development at the University of Victoria.
The first chair of its kind in Canada, it will be supported by $2 million in federal and $1 million in provincial funding.

Housed in UVic's business and law faculties, this new chair will serve as a national focus of expertise for the advancement of aboriginal business and economic development, and generate collaboration on measures that can increase the participation of aboriginal people in the regional, national and international economies.

"B.C. has taken a leadership role in working to overcome the injustices of the past treatment of Canada's aboriginal people, and advancing new economic opportunities for aboriginal communities is critical to achieving that goal," says Premier Gordon Campbell. "This new chair at UVic is an example of the innovative partnerships we can form at all levels of government and society to achieve our shared goals for closing the social and economic gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians."

"Canada needs a way to generate new ideas, and to bring together the results of many institutions and organizations that are doing excellent work in the area of aboriginal business and economic development," says Dr. Keith Martin, MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca in announcing the chair on behalf of federal Minister of Industry David Emerson. "If we are to find lasting solutions, we must work together as partners to move forward with measures like this one that will have long-term positive impacts for aboriginal people and for Canada."

While the chair's specific activities are yet to be developed, they'll include: providing a venue for independent and collaborative research and consolidation of knowledge on aboriginal economic development; acting as a partnership broker among various parties; offering relevant learning opportunities and a supportive environment for new, and especially aboriginal, students in disciplines related to economic development; and publishing and sharing knowledge and best practices from which aboriginal economic development practitioners, and many others, can benefit.

"This chair provides an opportunity for research to be conducted independently," says Dr. John Borrows, UVic's professor of aboriginal justice and governance. "The work will be developed independently of government and institutes that may have produced similar research in the past. The chair will generate educational opportunities and bring businesses, aboriginal communities and aboriginal students together."

A national search will be conducted to identify a qualified individual to fill the position. UVic will also establish a forum for aboriginal organizations, business, and others involved in aboriginal economic development to provide advice on the design and implementation of the chair's activities, research agenda and education program.

The announcement is recognition of the university's commitment to and expertise in innovative programs and initiatives that support aboriginal students and aboriginal communities, adds Borrows.