Richard Vedan

Richard Vedan, a Secwepemc First Nation member, is an Associate Professor Emeritus and First Nations Advisor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Social Work, part of the Faculty of Arts. He joined UBC in 1995 and previously served as Director of the First Nation House of Learning (2001–2008) and Senior Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Affairs. Before UBC, he spent 16 years at Langara College in various academic and administrative roles. His expertise spans social work, social education, and community development, with a focus on Indigenous health, traditional healing practices, and addressing multi-generational trauma in First Nations communities.

Dr. Vedan’s research emphasizes Indigenous Knowledge, traditional medicine, and culturally grounded approaches to health and social development. He co-leads major projects like the Network Environments for Aboriginal Health Research (NEAHRBC) and the Resilient Indigenous Health Workforce Networks, collaborating with universities in Canada and New Zealand. He also contributes to advisory boards for organizations such as the CASWE Board of Accreditation and the Providence Health Critical Incident Management Team.

His teaching career includes roles as Chair of the Social Services Worker Department and Acting Dean at Langara College. He has supervised numerous graduate students, guiding research on topics like First Nations child welfare, addiction recovery, and Indigenous spirituality in therapy. Retired since 2014, he continues to advocate for decolonizing social work education and integrating Indigenous values into institutional practices.