Polish students share culture and identity at VIU March 17

Graduate students visiting Vancouver Island University from Poland will share their culture and identity with the public and VIU community during a free public presentation at the Nanaimo campus, library boardroom at 11:30 am March 17.

The graduate students are from the University of Silesia in Poland. They arrived at VIU last week as part of a cultural exchange.

Dr. Steve Lane, Dean of Arts of Humanities at VIU, said his department established a relationship with the University of Silesia as a way of sharing culture between countries. In 2006, a formal agreement between the two institutions was signed.

“The students study Canadian Studies at their university in Poland,” Lane said. “They are particularly interested in First Nations Studies and Aboriginal cultures, so they are working with VIU faculty member Dan McDonald in our First Nations Studies department to visit classes, give presentations on Silesia, and tour First Nations communities.”

Student Sabina Sweta Sen said a highlight so far was the chance to meet VIU First Nations Elder Ray Peters.

“I’ve learned so many new things that I could not have learned from a textbook,” she said. “It is truly amazing how he shares his stories and how he can influence people. Every word inspires me.”

During their 24-day visit in Canada, the Polish students will also spend a few days in Alert Bay. They’ll conduct their own research in the libraries and archives of the University of BC and the Museum of Anthropology. They do not have access to extensive research material in Poland.

Lane said the Dean of Faculty and graduate supervisor from the University of Sileisa have both visited VIU in the past, and VIU First Nations faculty member Dr. Laura Crammer visited Silesia three years ago to present a paper at a Canadian Studies symposium. “But this is the first exchange involving students.”

The visiting Polish students are supported by a grant from their government, to support field research in their graduate work and experience university life in Canada.

“While in Nanaimo, the Polish students are billeted with individual First Nations Studies students, as we are trying to immerse them in our program and to establish relationships that will lead to our students visiting there,” Lane added.

Lane is seeking funding to take a group of students from VIU to Poland during the next academic year to reciprocate the exchange.

“The university campus in Sosnowiec is about one hour from the beautiful old capitol city of Krakow, and is also near the remains of the infamous Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz,” said Lane. “I believe a trip to Poland would be transformative for VIU students, especially Aboriginal learners.”

Polish students Hania Mrozek, Michal Garbas and Rafal Madeja completed the first part of their public presentation Tuesday, March 16 entitled “Who are Upper-Silesians in Poland? Representations of our national history and significant places.”

Students Alina Grygierczyk, Ania Olesyzyk and Sabina Sweta Sen will lead the discussion today (Wednesday, March 17) on Polish culture and identity.

The presentation takes place 11:30 am to 1 pm in the Library Boardroom at the Nanaimo campus. Everyone is welcome.