Office of Indigenous Education Team



Dr. Verna Billy-Minnabarriet

Dr. Verna Billy-Minnabarriet

Senior Advisor to the Dean on Indigenous Education

Tel: 604-822-5286
Email: verna.minnabarriet@ubc.ca

Dr. Verna Billy-Minnabarriet is of the St’uxwtews (Bonaparte Indian Band) and raised in the Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux territories.

Key activities

  • Advises the Dean on matters related to Indigenous Education programs and initiatives in the Faculty of Education
  • Provides oversight of Indigenous Education programs and initiatives
  • Provides oversight of NITEP Indigenous teacher education program
  • Provides oversight of the Master of Education in Indigenous Education program
  • Supports recruitment and retention of Indigenous students
  • Represents Indigenous education at Faculty- and University-level committees


Natalie Simkin

Manager, NITEP and Indigenous Education

Tel: 604 822-5465
Email: natalie.simkin@ubc.ca

Key activities

  • Provides administrative and operational management of NITEP, the Indigenous Teacher Education Program, and the Office of Indigenous Education
  • Manages the administrative and staffing aspects of the academic graduate and undergraduate programs administered by OIE and NITEP
  • Oversees the operation of NITEP field centres both on and off campus



Shelly Liu

Assistant to the Senior Advisor to the Dean on Indigenous Education

Tel: 604 822 3077
Email: indigenous.education@ubc.ca

Key activities

  • Supports the Senior Advisor to the Dean on Indigenous Education with calendar management and a wide variety of administrative tasks
  • Provides finance administration and budget coordination
  • Provides digital communications