The mission of INLP and our Community Academic Outreach programs is the collective and individual empowerment of Indigenous peoples through education, taking into account First Nations' own knowledge systems, histories, ways of being and learning. Aware of the powerful role that Indigenous languages and language revitalization play for the present and future identity, well-being and wholeness of Indigenous peoples and communities, the Indigenous Languages Program works with speech communities and organizations to enable Indigenous language learning off campus in First Nations communities. Since 1993 and in partnership with Indigenous organizations, we have offered courses in some 18 languages in British Columbia and Yukon.
The Indigenous Languages Program (INLP) is a continuation of the award-winning SFU Kamloops Program, where the Indigenous Studies programs, Indigenous language proficiency programs and language courses were originally developed and offered. Between 1988 and 2011, more than 400 students graduated from the SFU Kamloops Program with SFU credentials, including Certificates, Diplomas, BA, BGS and BEd degrees. Through Community Academic Outreach Programming (FNEP), students completed Major and Minor programs in concentrations such as Anthropology and Sociology, Linguistics, Indigenous Studies, and Archaeology.
The INLP motto is “Help yourself and help one another."
Updated monthly! Events, articles, and feature profiles on students, faculty, and alumni.
INLP retirees celebrated
Esteemed INLP retirees Donna Gerdts and Peter Jacobs were honoured at a Celebration Luncheon on September 4th, 2025. Read the article here.
New member of INLP faculty
Joining our faculty this Fall is Dr. Lauren Schneider, an instructor and researcher focused on the morphosyntax of Salish languages. Read the article.
Fall 2025 Employment
Visit INLP Employment website.
Alumni Page
The alumni page has been updated, check it out!
June 2025 Convocation Video
View the .
Honorary Degree Recipient: Dr. Iyál' (Vanessa) Campbell.
Lieutenant Governor’s Medal Recipient: Kaitlyn Cunningham.
Discover all of the programs that INLP has to offer:
See also the Indigenous Languages Areas of Study within the SFU Academic Calendar.
Ready to graduate?
Find out how to apply for graduation and know about upcoming deadlines.
Convocation Info Sheet
Download it here.
INLL Graduate Students
See the Completing + Graduation website for full instructions. Also refer to the Dates + Deadlines page. Contact your Graduate Supervisor at least one full academic term prior to the term in which you plan to graduate, to review completion timelines.
Undergraduate INLP students
- Get your application form completed using the .
- Use this resource for guidance on how to prepare to apply to graduate.
- Contact the INLP Advisor at least one full academic term prior to the term in which you plan to graduate, in order to review your progress.
NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS FOR MMIWG2S
May 5th is the annual National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S). On this day each year we remember the people who have lost their lives to colonial, gender-based violence, and their families and communities that live daily with the grief of losing loved ones.
CONVOCATION OCTOBER 2025
- See the INLP & FNEP Graduation webpage for information on how to prepare to graduate and how to ensure that you have all of the necessary credits and paperwork completed.
- INLP has prepared a Convocation Info Sheet that summarizes much of info that you will find on the .
Ceremony B: Thursday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Convocation Mall, 8888 University Dr W, Burnaby (see map below)
Here is a collection of helpful links:
- Graduation Checklist
- October 8: Honouring Feast - Indigenous Student Centre
- Instructions to Mandatory Steps for the Oct 9th Convocation Ceremony (scroll down)
- Guest tickets
- Accessibility
- Reception after the convocation ceremony
- Bag Policy
• Purse or belt bag no larger than 6.5” x 8.5”
• Clear plastic bag (such as a freezer bag) no larger than 12” x 12” x 6”
• Note: A complimentary bag check service will be available near the entrances at the back of
Convocation Mall
Congratulations to our SPRING 2025 INLP graduates!
Convocation Ceremony for Indigenous Languages credentials
Ceremony F
June 12, 2025 (9:45 a.m.)
Congratulations to our SUMMER 2024 INLP graduates!
Convocation Ceremony for Indigenous Languages credentials
Ceremony B
October 10, 2024 (2:30 p.m.)
Congratulations to our SPRING 2024 INLP graduates!
Convocation Ceremony for Indigenous Languages credentials
Ceremony A
June 11, 2024 (9:45 a.m.)
Congratulations to our SUMMER 2023 INLP graduates!
Convocation Ceremony for Indigenous Languages credentials
Ceremony B
October 5, 2023 (2:30 p.m.)
Learn more about our INLP Alumni
Convocation Story: Kaitlyn Cunningham, Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Indigenous Languages, recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal
SFU Convocation Story: Kèyishà Bessie Cooley, 2023 Master's graduate
:Â Elder Ruby Peter, 2019 Honorary Doctorate
Explore these links for further information:
- Indigenous Community Academic Outreach and Coordination
- Undergraduate Programs: Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency (CINLP), Diploma in Indigenous Language Proficiency (DINLP), and Minor in Indigenous Language Proficiencey (INLMIN).
Graduate Programs: Indigenous Languages and Linguistics (INLL): Graduate Certificate (INLL GC) and Master of Arts (INLL MA).
- Indigenous Language Courses: INLG & LING