KPU welcomes Indigenous knowledge keeper in residence

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomed an Indigenous knowledge keeper in residence to the university community this semester.

Richard Pierre, whose traditional name is Sdemokeltel, is a young Elder from the Katzie First Nation on his father’s side and Tsawout on his mother’s. He is a cultural advisor at Len Pierre Consulting, which is run by his son and offers services for Indigenous cultural safety and reconciliation.

He was a cultural facilitator for the Surrey School District, where he worked with students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Pierre shared and infused Indigenous knowledge and information he learned growing up into the curriculum, which was well received by students, teachers, and staff, he says.

Now supporting KPU instructors in the classroom, he finds there is “still a hunger for knowledge” when it comes to learning about the contemporary issues of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

“Being well versed in it and talking to the younger age groups, [I’m now] just stepping it up and working with post-secondary students and just loving the opportunity to be able to do so again,” Pierre says.

His work entails focusing on truth and reconciliation. With the “truth” part already being out there, told, and expressed, his work in classrooms covers “reconciliation,” where he gives his point of view on what it is and should have been all along, he says.

“My responsibility is to showcase that willingness to still share and still look others — non-Indigenous people — in the eye and to lean in and say, ‘Okay, where do we go from here? How do we still look each other in the eye even though my people were treated very unfairly because of the Indian Act and the federal government’s approach to trying to fix us?’” Pierre says.

“Well, that’s all said and done. But now, for true reconciliation, I believe [it’s how we] come together, work together, and build a relationship where we can honestly go into the future and make life better for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.”

He says when he goes into classrooms to share his views, stories, and understandings, he tells students to not let the conversation he began stop and continue gathering their own knowledge.

“We talk about baskets because we have little cedar baskets, and our Elders tell us it’s our journey to take your basket and fill it with as much knowledge as you possibly can in your lifetime, so by the time you reach to be an Elder, your cup or your basket will be so full [that] now it’s up to you to spread that knowledge to the younger people.”

Pierre hopes through his work, students will be more open to not just conversations about Indigenous Peoples, but ones on issues happening in their communities and around the world.

He says a number of players were involved with him learning about the position and joining KPU, beginning with his son, Len, who is an Indigenous studies instructor at the university.

Pierre then learned Melinda Bige, associate dean in the faculty of arts and Pierre’s former high school student in the early 2000s, was the person looking for a knowledge keeper in residence. He also found out his former colleagues at the Surrey School District, which include Allison Hotti, Gayle Bedard, and Natalie Wood-Wiens, work at KPU, too.

When mentioning to KPU’s Elder in residence, Lekeyten of the Kwantlen First Nation, that there was an opening for this role, Pierre says he told him that the university needs him and he will do well here.

He says the KPU community has made him feel appreciated.

“They’re ever so grateful and thankful that I am in the facility with them. That’s a great and honourable feeling I wish everybody can enjoy.”

To schedule an appointment with Pierre or to book him as a guest in the classroom, email indigenousresident@kpu.ca.