University of Regina strips Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond of honorary degree | 24CA News

A significant Canadian college has stripped former B.C. consultant for youngsters and youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond of an honorary diploma.

In a Monday assertion, the University of Regina mentioned it had rescinded an honorary physician of legal guidelines diploma it bestowed on Turpel-Lafond in 2003.

The college mentioned the choice got here following a request from the Indigenous Women’s Collective to revoke such levels.

In a press release in November, that group mentioned the honours needs to be withdrawn as a result of Turpel-Lafond “stole” the id and lived experiences of Indigenous girls.

Last fall, a sequence of experiences by the CBC raised quite a lot of questions on Turpel-Lafond’s claims about her educational accomplishments and her claims of Indigenous ancestry.

0:45UBC apologizes for response to article questioning Turpel-Lafond’s educational claims, indigenous ancestry

“In making this decision the University conducted consultations and considered the evidence that has emerged in the media with respect to Turpel-Lafond’s claims of Indigenous heritage/ancestry. Additionally, a number of other stated credentials and academic achievements have been shown to be untrue,” the University of Regina mentioned.

“While the University recognizes that Turpel-Lafond has been a strong advocate for Indigenous rights and child welfare, her accomplishments are outweighed by the harm inflicted upon Indigenous academics, peoples and communities when non-Indigenous people misrepresent their Indigenous ancestry.”

In a press release posted to Twitter, Indigenous Women’s Collective praised the University of Regina’s transfer, and renewed its name for different universities to comply with go well with.

“We applaud the University of Regina for their courage and commitment to upholding academic integrity, denouncing Indigenous identity fraud, and conducting itself in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation,” it mentioned.

Last month, the University of Regina and 5 different Canadian universities informed the Canadian Press mentioned they had been reviewing Turpel-Lafond’s honorary levels within the wake of the request.

Turpel-Lafond has returned related levels Vancouver Island University and Royal Roads University.

Last month, the University of British Columbia confirmed that it had parted methods with Turpel-Lafond in December.

1:24Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond is not employed at UBC

Turpel-Lafond served as director of the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre till June, and remained a professor on the Allard School of Law till UBC reduce ties together with her.

In a press release posted to her Twitter account in October, Turpel-Lafond maintained she was “of Cree, Scottish & English heritage & hold the name aki-kwe & am an active member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation,” and that her “credentials have been vetted at the highest levels of our country.”

Turpel-Lafond has been a high-profile public determine in B.C. and throughout Canada for many years in areas of Indigenous human rights and constitutional legislation.

In 2020, she authored the report In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.