Six of 10 universities confirm they are reviewing honorary degrees given to retired judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond after they were asked by a group of indigenous women to revoke them following a CBC investigation into her claims of indigenous heritage.
The honors must be withdrawn because the former BC children and youth representative has “stolen” the identities and lived experiences of Indigenous women, the Indigenous Women’s Collective said in a statement.
The University of Regina, along with McGill, Brock, Royal Roads, St. Thomas and Mount St. Vincent universities, said they were investigating the situation.
Their statements Wednesday came a day after Vancouver Island University announced Turpel-Lafond had reinstated her honorary degree from 2013. Her school said it was under review due to requests from staff and members of the university community.
Carleton, Simon Fraser, Thompson Rivers and York universities did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.
Retired Sen. Lillian Dyke is among the signatories of the collective’s statement, which said Turpel-Lafond claimed opportunities, recognition and influence that were not rightfully hers.
The University of British Columbia, where Turpel-Lafond was a law professor, recently announced that she is no longer working there as of December 16.
Reached by phone, Turpel-Lafond declined to comment on calls to revoke her honorary degrees or the universities’ review processes.
She previously told the CBC that she never questioned the biological parentage of her father, who she said was Cree, when she was growing up.
She introduced herself at a 2019 hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, saying, “I’m a Cree person, originally from the Prairies.”
Until last year, Turpel-Lafond was the academic director of the Center for History and Dialogue at UBC’s Indian Residential School. She is a long-time advocate for indigenous issues.
The women’s collective’s statement said so-called “pretendianism” was an act of colonial violence with dire consequences for indigenous peoples.
“We must ensure that the indigenous people of our children and grandchildren will be respected and protected,” it said, adding that any organization or leader claiming to defend truth and reconciliation must condemn any “violations.”
Meanwhile, Grand Chief Stuart Phillip of the Union of Indian Chiefs of British Columbia said Wednesday that the CBC investigation questioning Turpel-Lafond’s legacy is a “witch hunt.”
The union responded to the inquiry last October with a statement saying Turpel-Lafond is a fierce and ethical advocate for indigenous peoples.
Issues of indigenous identity had to be resolved by indigenous peoples, families and governments based on their own laws and customs, it said.
“It is not the role of the media, the crown or anyone else to tell us who we are.”
Philip declined to comment further when reached by phone.
The University of British Columbia issued a statement Tuesday saying it deeply regrets the way it handled the situation after the CBC investigation was published.
The school’s initial response last year said Indigenous identity was not an express requirement for Turpel-Lafond’s position at the school dialogue centre.
But the latest statement, signed by interim president and vice-chancellor Deborah Buzard and academic vice-president Gage Averill, said UBC’s initial comment and silence on its interpretation was taken as support for her.
They expressed concern that this harmed the local community at UBC and beyond.
“We deeply regret the impact of this and promise to do more now and in the future.”
The university is reviewing its approaches to the role of Indigenous status and “truthfulness” in recruitment, the statement said.
Add Comment