UVic welcomes $5M boost to scale Indigenous priorities and reconciliation

Press Release

September 9, 2025

The University of Victoria (UVic) is recognized for its national leadership in advancing education for Indigenous young people with a $5-million investment from the Mastercard Foundation announced on Tuesday.

The funding will advance UVic’s commitments to reconciliation, increasing and sustaining Indigenous-led initiatives and Indigenous leadership across the institution. In total, 30 organizations across Canada will receive funding as part of a nation-wide strategic investment announced by Mastercard Foundation to mark the 10th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

“We are deeply honoured that our trusted partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has led to this significant investment in the university’s Indigenous priorities,” says UVic’s acting president, Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Robina Thomas. “This gift reflects the University of Victoria’s sustained commitment to supporting Indigenous students and to ensuring Indigenous representation and leadership across the university.”

The local teaching central to our Indigenous Plan, Leʔt šxʷ helə ʔə cə mək̓ ʷ sčeʔi səʔ | S,HOL EṮ MEQ EN ENÁ SE SĆȺ | Be prepared for the work to come, reminds us of our ongoing responsibility to advance Indigenous research, teaching and learning. The Mastercard Foundation’s investment will help move this work forward in a good way. We lift our hands to the Foundation for their transformational support of Indigenous youth across Canada.”

—Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Robina Thomas, acting president and vice-chancellor

The funding will be managed by the Etalew̓txʷ | ÁTOL ÁUTW̱ | Office of the Vice-President Indigenous, which was established in 2023 to lead the university’s Indigenous initiatives and priorities, and oversee the implementation of Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward, UVic’s Indigenous Plan 2023.

“We will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous communities to assess where this investment can have the greatest impact,” says Lalita Kines, interim vice-president Indigenous at UVic. “It will boost several projects already underway and allow us to initiate other strategic work guided by our Indigenous plan.”

The university’s longstanding commitment to supporting Indigenous students includes Indigenous-focused programs, wellness and cultural supports, access and pathways programs and financial awards, adds Kines. UVic is also recognized as a leader in research on Indigenous land, language and law and in supporting the resurgence of cultural practices.

UVic’s increased Indigenous-led senior leadership across the university will ensure Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems and governance practices are embedded in curriculum, research and decision-making. Three new associate deans Indigenous have recently been appointed in the faculties of fine arts, business and law.

The initiative supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 10 (reduce inequality).

Learn more about UVic’s Indigenous Plan.

Read the Mastercard Foundation news release here.

ILR4