For immediate release

KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place Explores the (Mis)Representations of Indigenous Peoples

Surrey, BC – (March 25, 2011) – KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place hosted its second instalment of the Gathering Place Lecture Series on Thursday, March 24, 2011.

The theme for the event centred on depictions of Aboriginal peoples in media and popular culture. Titled The Blue People of Avatar: (Mis)Representations of Indigenous Peoples in Media and Popular Culture, the lecture was delivered by Dorothy Christian, a Ph.D. candidate at UBC with a background in television and documentary film production.

"It's so nice to be at a university that has such an intimate community feeling," commented Christian. "I'm pleased that everyone was so engaged in the topic."

KPU faculty, staff and students, as well as community members, attended the hour long lecture which was followed by 45 minutes of questions and discussion.

"I couldn't be happier with the turnout and participation for this event," says Joshua Mitchell, director of student engagement at KPU who oversees Indigenous Services for Students and KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place. "A university should play an important role as a hub for the communities where it resides, which is why it's so great to see such a good mix in participants."

The Gathering Place Lecture series is one of a number of initiatives including peer tutoring services, librarian assistance and student club activities, being delivered out of KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place following its grand opening in May 2010. The Aboriginal Gathering Place will host two lectures every year, one in the fall and one in the spring, on a wide range of topics related to Aboriginal issues.

KPU has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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For more information on KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place, contact:

Darlene Willier
First Nations Education Coordinator
Tel: 604.599.2269
darlene.willier@kpu.ca

For more information about KPU, contact:

Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kpu.ca