Pushor Mitchell LLP announces a new Pushor Mitchell LLP Award in Indigenous Language Fluency at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, with Partner Andrew Brunton presenting the cheque to UBC Okanagan Executive Director Development & Alumni Engagement Adrienne Skinner.
The new award was established as part of the law firm’s 50th anniversary and its ongoing commitment to community and preservation of indigenous reconciliation. The firm is also proud of its long-standing relationship with UBC Okanagan and its interest to ensure the preservation of indigenous languages.
Pushor Mitchell has pledged $7,500 for this award, which will be matched by UBC Okanagan, resulting in a total contribution of $15,000 available over two years. The award will be available to third-or-fourth-year undergraduate students enrolled in an Indigenous Language Fluency degree program in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UBC Okanagan. Financial need will be a primary consideration in the selection process, with the first awards available in the 2023/24 winter session.
Joni Metherell, Managing Partner at Pushor Mitchell, expressed her enthusiasm for this meaningful initiative, stating, “Supporting the community is the heartbeat of our law firm, and collaborating on this award with our long-standing partner UBC Okanagan is of great significance to us. We have a history of working in the field of First Nations law, and deeply respect the importance of indigenous teachings, knowledge and language. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of this award on indigenous language fluency and cultural preservation.”
“UBC Okanagan is grateful for Pushor Mitchell’s longstanding support of the university, our students, and of critically important initiatives like Indigenous language revitalization,” says Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UBC Okanagan. “From supporting students with financial need to offering annual prizes in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and community leadership, we greatly value Pushor Mitchell’s generous support of our students and their exemplary commitment to helping students build their future.”