Patricia Victor Switametelót, MAL

University Siya:m; Co-Director, Institute of Indigenous Issues & Perspectives; Indigenous Elder; Part Time Instructor of Education

Patti is Sto:lo, living on the traditional ancestral unceded territory of Cheam First Nation where she enjoys her children and grandchildren. She and her late husband Gary are the founding pastors of a thriving First Nations Church in Chilliwack. She is an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.

Patti earned her B.A. in Pastoral Theology at Summit Pacific and her MA in Leadership at Trinity Western University.  She is the chair of Indigenous Partnership Council and director of Institute of Indigenous Issues and Perspectives.  In her role of TWU Siya:m, Patti teaches Indigenous perspectives across disciplines;  coaches and mentors Indigenous students; builds relationships with Aboriginal communities; and provides opportunities for TWU community  to understand Indigenous perspectives in education, spirituality, community, history and reconciliation.

Patti's passion is to build bridges with Aboriginal community through education: through professional development workshops for educators, Aboriginal Awareness workshops for churches or facilitating events where greater understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being are developed and the journey of reconciliation can flourish.

  • Masters of Arts in Leadership, Christian Ministry stream (Trinity Western University, Langley, BC)
  • BA in Pastoral Theology (Summit Pacific, Abbotsford, BC)

Expertise

As the University's Siya:m, Patti has the privilege of working directly with Aboriginal students as coach and mentor, working closely with faculty to ensure that Aboriginal perspective is integrated in all disciplines, and and providing opportunities for the TWU community to become sensitive and knowledgeable about Aboriginal worldview, history and culture.

  • EDUC 496 Indigenous Perspectives in Education