Indigenous Artist, Writers and Knowledge Keeper In Residence
The Faculty of Arts is honoured to welcome our newest Indigenous Residents: Indigenous Artist and Writer in Residence, Napatsi Folder; Indigenous Writer in Residence, Selina Boan and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper In Residence, Richard Pierre.
Napatsi, Selina and Richard are available for in-class visits, events, as well as student, faculty and staff engagements. If you would like to schedule an online consultation or invite them to attend a class or event, please email IndigenousResident@kpu.ca.
Napatsi Folger
Napatsi Folger is an Inuk artist and writer originally from Iqaluit, Nunavut, currently living and working in North Vancouver, BC. She graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2021 with an MFA in Creative Writing with a focus in graphic forms and fiction. Her published works include numerous magazine articles and academic essays, as well as Joy of Apex (Inhabit Media, 2011), a middle-grade YA book about growing up in the Arctic.
What she loves best about writing is telling stories that her people can relate to because she did not see herself in literature until she was 19 years old and read a book about an Indigenous teenager for a first-year English course. Folger has since shifted her creative focus to comics, which she feels is a versatile medium to tell stories. Folger also holds the Tauttunnguaqti position at the Inuit Art Foundation, where she is in charge of the creative vision for the Inuit Art Quarterly.
Selina Boan
Selina Boan is a white settler-nehiyaw (Cree) writer and educator living on the traditional, unceded territories of thexʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-waututh), and sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples. Her debut poetry collection, Undoing Hours, won the 2022 Pat Lowther Memorial Award and the Indigenous Voices Award for Published Poetry in English. Her work has been published widely, including The Best Canadian Poetry 2018 and 2020. She is a poetry editor for CV2 Magazine and a beadwork artist.
Selina is a passionate educator and believes learning requires the exploration of identity in relationship to how we are connected to one another, to the community, and to the land. Her teaching philosophy centres on fostering a learning space that celebrates who students are, where they come from, and the unique perspectives, stories, and ideas they bring to a learning space. She is thrilled to be joining KPU for the next several months and looks forward to meeting you!
Richard Pierre
Richard Pierre, Sdemokeltel, is from Katzie First Nation on his father's side and Tsawout First Nation on his mother's side. Richard is an Elder and Cultural Advisor at Len Pierre Consulting. He enjoys sharing traditional Coast Salish family values, culture, beliefs, history, language, and contemporary issues.
Richard has over 20 years of experience working in the education sector, including public K-12, university, and professional training programs. He is passionate about making reconciliation a reality in this country and looks forward to helping the next generation transition into "walking together" like we should have been doing all along.
Drop-In Consultations
Meet with Selina Boan to share and discuss your ongoing work, initiatives or projects. Consultations are open to all students, staff, and faculty. Drop-in sessions occur evert Tuesday from 10:00am - 2:00pm at The Gathering Place at the KPU Surrey campus. If you want to meet at a different time, you can schedule an appointment by emailing indigenousresident@kpu.ca.
When: Every Tuesday
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: The Gathering Place, KPU Surrey, Main 166
Current Events
Shut up and Write with Napatsi Folger
An invitation to bring your homework, poetry, screenplay, sketch book, or fan fic and write together with Indigenous Artist and Writer-in-Residence, Napatsi Folger and other folks who need a bit of community and motivation. Casual drop-ins are welcome, and people from all backgrounds and positions within the university are encouraged to join!
When: Every Friday until March 29, 2024
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Where: The Gathering Place (Main 166) or Online Teams Session (Link Here)
Sessions will be held virtually over Teams and in person. Use the link above for any virtual Team Session! Everyone is welcome! People from all backgrounds and positions within the University are encouraged to join!
View event invite on social media
Past Events
Virtual Comic Workshop with Indigenous Artist in Residence, Napatsi Folger- March 19, 2024
Do you like comics and want to learn more about how to create them? Napatsi Folger, our Indigenous Artist and Writer in Residence, will be hosting a virtual artist talk on comics and the multiple possibilities offered by the juxtaposition of text and image.
In this session, Napatsi will explain how she came to develop her personal style in comics, introduce the artists who have inspired her work, and explore how she draws from everyday life to create rich subjects that deal with real issues.
Gathering of Indigenous People- March 14, 2024
Join us for a day of networking with your Indigenous peers at KPU! Let's come together and grow our community. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your fellow Indigenous people!
All KPU students, staff and faculty are invited. Bannock and tea will be served.
Beading Social with Indigenous Artists in Residence, Napatsi Folger and Selina Boan- March 12, 2024
Due to the overwhelming demand of our previous beading workshops, we are holding another one on March 12! Join us for this fun and creative session where you'll learn how to create stunning beaded earrings using brick stitch beads. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to elevate your accessory collection!
Napatsi Folger, Indigenous Writer and Artist in Residence, and Selina Boan, Indigenous Writer and Artist in Residence will lead us through this brick stitch beading workshop on how to create fringe earrings.
Beading supplies and snacks will be provided. All are welcome! Please be sure to register as there are limited spots available.
An Afternoon of Sharing - Indigenous Residents Panel Discussion- March 8, 2024
Join us for a thought-provoking panel event with our Indigenous artist, writers and knowledge keeper in residence-- Napatsi Folger, Selina Boan and Richard Pierre. We'll engage with the wisdom, story, and teachings of these unique Artists, and Knowledge Keepers. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn and be inspired!
Melinda Bige, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts, will moderate the event. There will be time for discussion with a question and answer period. Light refreshments will be provided.
Valentine's Day Beading with Indigenous Artists in Residence, Napatsi Folger and Selina Boan- February 13, 2024
Spread Love with Every Bead! Join us the day before Valentine's Day for a heartwarming beading event! Unleash your creativity, make beautiful memories, and craft the perfect token of affection for yourself or someone special. Napatsi Folger, Indigenous Writer and Artist in Residence, and Selina Boan, Indigenous Writer and Artist in Residence will lead us through some Valentine's themed bead work.
Beading supplies and snacks will be provided. All are welcome!
Meet and Greet with Indigenous Residents: Richard Pierre and Selina Boan- February 6, 2024
We will be holding a Meet and Greet next week for our new Indigenous Residents. Come by and meet Richard Pierre, our new Indigenous Knowledge Keeper in Residence and Selina Boan, our new Indigenous Writer in Residence.
Everyone is invited to come to The Gathering Place to meet and chat with Richard and Selina. Light refreshments will be provided.
Writing Prompt Workshop with Indigenous Writers in Residence, Napatsi Folger and Selina Boan- January 23, 2024
Join Napatsi Folger and Selina Boan, Indigenous Writers in Residence, as they open your mind and creativity to writing through prompts. All writing interests and skills levels are welcome!
Build your writing confidence, improve your writing skills and boost your creativity! Incorporating with writing prompts into your writing routine will not only make you a better writer, it will help you take creative risks and discover new writing styles. While writing prompts help to get the creative juices flowing, they can also help you get ready for a productive writing session and even enable you to develop a wider writing skill-set.
Just email us at Arts.CommEvents@kpu.ca to reserve your spot!
Holiday Beading- December 1, 2023
Join Indigenous Writer and Artist in Residence, Napatsi Folger on December 1 at The Gather Place to learn some simple brick stitch beadwork. Brick Stitch is a bead weaving stitch in which individual beads are stacked horizontally in the same pattern as bricks are stacked in a wall.
Learn how to make fringe earrings or holiday pins! Supplies and snacks will be provided. All are welcome!
View event invite on social media
Meet and Greet with Napatsi Folger- October 3, 2023
Napatsi is known for her creative writing in genres of comic art, fiction, and nonfiction, with themes of Indigeneity and family relationships prominent in her writing.
Everyone is invited to come by The Gathering Place to meet and chat with Napatsi. Light refreshments will be provided.
View event invite on social media
Spooky Halloween Readings with Napatsi Folger- October 31, 2023
It's time to get spooky! Grab your ghoul friends and get ready to be spooked with some scary and spooky Halloween stories! Let's go on a thrilling Halloween reading adventure with our Indigenous Artist and Writer in Residence, Napatsi Folger, and make this an unforgettable Halloween. Listen to some tales of fright, read from your own haunted writings or an eerie book excerpt of your choice! Plus, there will be Halloween treats! Everyone is welcome!
If you wish to read a spooky, scary, or suspenseful Halloween story, please inform us by emailing arts.commevents@kpu.ca in advance. Readings must be 5 minutes or 2000 words or less.
View event invite on social media