Elder in Residence

Geraldine Manson: Traditional Name - C’tasi:a


Geraldine Manson

As a First Nations woman, my passion is being involved – supporting and advocating for all seeking and entering higher education.

My community is Snuneymuxw First Nation and I was appointed as the first full-time Elder-in-Residence at Vancouver Island University in 2012. The Elder-in-Residence position at VIU provides guidance and support to aboriginal and non- aboriginal students, as well as co-teaching, and sharing traditional knowledge and practices in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Human Services (HHS). I have worked in the Elder role with VIU for the past 8 years and have spent 17 years as an Elder’s Co-ordinator for my community. A key part of my role with HHS is to further strengthen ‘Indigenous Ways of Knowing’ into the regular curriculum.