About About

Get to know VIU. As a teaching university and a research university, we offer a unique experience to students.

About VIU Why VIU

About VIU

Why VIU?

Explore where VIU is going

The Strategic Plan builds on our commitment to diverse learners and draws on our connection to the community.

Strategic Plan

Programs Programs

Explore a wide range of program offerings and learning services. Choose from degrees, vocational training, certificates and more.

Find your program Learning Services

Programs

Learning Services

More program info

Get your program questions answered at an Info Week program session November 12 to 18.

Explore Info Week

Admissions & Aid Admissions & Aid

Discover how to apply to VIU and get more information about tuition and financial aid.

Admissions Tuition and Aid

Admissions

Tuition and Aid

How to become a student

Make your VIU application successful by following these steps to becoming a student.

Steps to become a student

Student Life Student Life

Make the best of your time at VIU. Get involved in campus events and enjoy island adventures.

Student Life Student Services

Student Life

Student Services and Support

Get ready for the new student orientation

Attend in-person and online events, explore campus and connect with your professors and soon-to-be classmates!

RockVIU

Support VIU Support VIU

Connect with other VIU alumni and learn about the impact of donor generosity at VIU.

Give

VIU Alumni

VIU Donors

Your support means so much to VIU students

Our donors fund over 2000 scholarships, awards, and bursaries each year.

Research Research

Discover how VIU's interdisciplinary research is making a real-world impact.

Research

Research and Creative Activity

Explore the research highlights. Includes recent publications, ground-breaking studies and more.

Research Reports

Search VIU

A Year in Anthropology: 2010-11

Photo Gallery

This is a snapshot of courses, projects, events, and activities undertaken by students and faculty of the Department of Anthropology, Vancouver Island University from Intersession 2010 to Spring 2011. Included are photos of Dr Andra Thakur and his success with the Nanaimo Sewing School in Guyana.

» click on the images below to enlarge

Thumbs up! Celia gives a thumbs up to the munchies provided for the ANTH Forum.

Toni presenting Toni describes her internship experience with the Cumberland Museum & Archives.

Not one but two... Michelle did not one but two internships during the academic year, beginning with one in the Netherlands during the summer.

Island archaeology Rhy had the opportunity to work on an archaeology project on the Island during the summer.

Stephen Salem/Essex & Kent award recipient This is the fourth year this award has been presented. Amanda with Dr Gay Frederick, Chair of Anthropology.

Anthropology Student Club Award Clark with Dr Gay Frederick, Chair.

Anthropology Student Club Award Dr Gay Frederick, Chair, with Michelle, one of three recipients of the ASC Award.

2010-11 award winners Amanda, Stephen Salem/Essex & Kent awardee; Clark and Michelle Anthropology Student Club recipients.

Historic sign boards - Shanghai Alley Audrea, Kairis, and Susan reading the sign boards.

Pure jade Jade abacus at the south end of Shanghai Alley.

The narrowest building in the world Kairis demonstrating how wide the Sam Kee Building is.

ANTH 280 presentation Cliff making his oral history presentation.

ANTH 280 students (1) Deb, Victoria, and Liz, Cowichan campus

ANTH 280 students (2) Dave and Cliff, Cowichan campus

Future VIU students Moms (Mary Dawn, ?, & Leah) with future VIU students.

Look out Leah's son trying his hand with the sling shot.

Ready, set James trying out the slingshot he made for ANTH 111

Look what I made Mary Dawn and her basket

Play me a tune Demonstration of tool made in ANTH 111

Venus figurines Upper Palaeolithic replicas made for ANTH 111, Cowichan campus.

Twine making Mary Dawn making twine in ANTH 111, Cowichan campus

Nanaimo Sewing School Officer Beverly Ogleton of the New Amsterdam receiving from Dr Andra Thakur five sewing machines donated by the Nanaimo Sewing School to the New Amsterdam Prison Service.

Nanaimo Sewing School Students, under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Habbibullah, right, using the "serger" sewing machine for the first time.

Nanaimo Sewing School Primary school students receiving back-packs, with uniforms included - provided by the Nanaimo Sewing School (Dr Andra Thakur). Donating back-packs to less fortunate students is an annual project of the Corriverton Rotary Club.

Fair trade sale (1) Lynette and Marian look at items for sale with Lana overseeing the table.

Fair trade sale (2) Lana encouraging the sale of items to Rachel during the fair trade fair.

Fair trade sale (3) Jennifer with goods from La Mano.

Fair trade sale (4) Lana with good from Altyn Oimok, Kyrgyzstan.

Laurel Whitley, Faculty, Capilano University; Dr Ignacio Oacho, Department of Anthropology, Landivar University, Guatamala; Karen Prins, Lecturer in Pedagogy and International Coordinator, University College Capital Frøbelseminariet, Denmark; Florence Jam

Laurel Whitley, Faculty, Capilano University; Karen Prins, Lecturer in Pedagogy and International Coordinator, University College Capital Frøbelseminariet, Denmark; Dr Ignacio Oacho, Department of Anthropology, Landivar University, Guatamala; Maria Laurid

Our Campus by the River Banner made by ANTH 267 students to commemorate the move to a new Cowichan campus

Heidi, Aymie, Olivia and Erin working hard; October 24, 2010.

Patricia, Catherine, Heidi, Aymie, Olivia, Erin; October 24, 2010.

Gift bags for Somenos House Gift bags for Somenos Women’s Transition House, an Anthropology of Homelessness community outreach project; October 29, 2010.

Receiving certificate of thanks Liz receives certificate from Somenos House

ANTH 316 students Students made a presentation of gift bags to Somenos Women’s Transition House, as an Anthropology of Homelessness community outreach project.

ANTH 316 students with Somenos House staff Students are Olivia, Erin, Liz and Kirsten with Professor Helene Demers second from right; October 29, 2010.

Lina de Guevara and Elder Florence James Lina was welcomed to the Cowichan Campus by Elder-in-residence Florence James

Encounter through Words. A conversation about the Chilean Aboriginal poet, journalist and indigenous rights activist Elikura Chihuailaf Nahuelpan conducted by Lina de Guevara

In discussion - panelists (l-r) Elder Florence James, Hayne Wai, Harley Wylie, Sharon Hobenshield

Holding the Cowichan paddle Harley Wylie (l) and Hayne Wai (r), guest panelists for the screening of Cedar and Bamboo

A cozy gathering of VIU organizers and guest panelists (l-r) Helene Demers, Ruth Kroek, Sharon Hobenshield, Elder Florence James, Hayne Wai, Maria Gomes, and Harley Wylie

Yum! Raw herring! Michelle is in Amsterdam. When not eating raw herring, she is our ANTH intern at Aletta Institute for Women's History.

Nicole, Lisa, Bethany, Bel; (back row, left) Shakira and (back row, right) Alicia.

ANTH faculty, graduates, & children Looking thoughtful, pondering the future...

Where the action is ... food! Enjoying one another's company. Also in attendance were the Tanzania field school students, and the children and partners of faculty and graduates.

Eating and mingling The garden party stayed inside to keep warm!

Thanks VIU! Secondary students showing the books donated by VIU (Departments of Anthropology, English, and Geography, and field school student).

Thank you ASC! Some of the texts purchased from funds raised by the Anthropology Student Club for this secondary school in Kondoa District.

Thanks VIU! Donations from VIU (Department of Anthropology, English, and Geography) to the Archaeology Unit of the University of Dar-es-Salaam.

Connect with Us!

Phone or email us

Events and Info Sessions

View events

Ready to join us at VIU?

Start Your application