My name is Darryl Gray. My mother is Ts’msyen from Lax Kw’alaams in British Columbia. I practice my Indigenous culture and traditions through my Sigyidm Hana’a (matriarchal) teachings within my Ts’mysen cultural traditions. I belong to Waap Liyaa’mlaxha, a Gisbutwada (Blackfish) House in the Gitaxangiik Tribe. Furthermore, my father is Oglala, Sioux from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. I have always felt a deep seated connection to both my Indigenous bloodlines.
Darryl is currently a PHD student in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. Darryl’s responsibilities in the PHD program take up a lot the allotted time in his life (example, on top of studies, being a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant). Furthermore, Darryl is a co-coordinator in the Successful Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement Program in the Faculty of Education at UBC.
Darryl has long standing ties to the Urban Indigenous Community in the Lower Mainland and Coast Salish Territories. Darryl worked in the field of Social Work for over 20 years in positions from Youth Worker, Shelter Supervisor, Counsellor and Executive Director. The experiences in the field has given Darryl a great understanding of working with Indigenous peoples in their current positioning in life.
Darryl is currently the President of the Circles of Eagles Board of Directors. He is a seated member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for the Vancouver Police Department. Also, Darryl volunteers his time as a youth worker to contribute to the healthy development of Indigenous youth in the Blue Eagles Cadet Program through the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (police). Since 2021, Darryl has been a member of the Aboriginal Steering Committee for the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC.