SFUs Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS) | Honouring Steven Point's work to improve Indigenous literacy @SFUFASS | Uploaded December 2019 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
Tsleil-Waututh singing and drumming rang through Simon Fraser University’s Saywell Hall Atrium on November 21 to celebrate the Honourable Steven L. Point (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) and his work to improve Indigenous literacy in British Columbia.
Watch Steven Point's full speech at youtu.be/_yrB-Uag7rc
In accordance with age-old Coast Salish protocol and practice, distinguished speakers at the witnessing ceremony honoured Point in Halkomelem and English for championing literacy while keeping his peoples’ old ways alive. Oral histories and traditions are affirmed at such ceremonies where witnesses recognize and acknowledge the important “work” that is taking place.
After Point was “stood up” and blanketed, he told of how a conversation with Bob Blacker, his aide-de-camp during his term as Lt. Gov., sparked the Write to Read Project that delivers books computers and high speed internet to remote First Nations communities around the province.
Point, who is from the Skowkale First Nation, became the province’s first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor in 2007 after practicing law and serving as a provincial court judge as well as holding positions of influence in First Nations, provincial and federal governments.
Tsleil-Waututh singing and drumming rang through Simon Fraser University’s Saywell Hall Atrium on November 21 to celebrate the Honourable Steven L. Point (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) and his work to improve Indigenous literacy in British Columbia.
Watch Steven Point's full speech at youtu.be/_yrB-Uag7rc
In accordance with age-old Coast Salish protocol and practice, distinguished speakers at the witnessing ceremony honoured Point in Halkomelem and English for championing literacy while keeping his peoples’ old ways alive. Oral histories and traditions are affirmed at such ceremonies where witnesses recognize and acknowledge the important “work” that is taking place.
After Point was “stood up” and blanketed, he told of how a conversation with Bob Blacker, his aide-de-camp during his term as Lt. Gov., sparked the Write to Read Project that delivers books computers and high speed internet to remote First Nations communities around the province.
Point, who is from the Skowkale First Nation, became the province’s first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor in 2007 after practicing law and serving as a provincial court judge as well as holding positions of influence in First Nations, provincial and federal governments.
