·¬ÇÑÉçÇø

Tansi, hello everyone! My name is Matthew Simpson, my preferred pronouns are he/his. I am matrilineally Swampy Cree from Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 territory, Manitoba – one of many travelling grandchildren of the Crate sisters (southeast of the river) – and I inherit my surname as well as mixed Scottish and Dutch settler ancestry from my biological father. I am extremely privileged to belong to the Skedans Raven Clan of Haida Gwaii through custom adoption; I grew up a Mills boy, Bopper and Jo’s son, Kimi’s brother, and a member of the Skidegate Band.

I was first welcomed to lək̓ʷəŋən territory as a member of the Year 8 cohort of the Aboriginal Youth Internship Program in 2014, and I’ve been living as a grateful visitor to these lands ever since.

I finished high school at SKSS in Kamloops, BC in 2009, and my post-secondary journey began at Thompson Rivers University the following fall. I transferred to the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø in 2011 to pursue a degree in Anthropology, but my education detoured when I was given the opportunity to work for BC’s Friendship Centre movement, where I spent seven years hopping around various positions and cities, in work ranging from community-facing roles to writing and advocacy at the provincial level. I was given the opportunity to work at UVic on a term beginning in 2021, and I’ve been here full-time since 2022.

Even if our work doesn’t ever quite overlap, I am looking forward to connecting with you. 😊

Kikīcinanāskomitināwāw, Haawa, all my relations, in friendship,

Matt