Maria Campbell Awarded Honorary Degree
Fri. Sep. 21, 2018
From July 22 to 25, 2018, a group of about twenty from the University of Winnipeg travelled to Gabriel’s Crossing, Saskatchewan, to deliver an Honorary Doctorate of Letters to distinguished Métis author Maria Campbell. Organized by English Department faculty member Paul DePasquale in conjunction with the President’s Office, the event was the culmination of a process that began with the English Department’s nomination of Dr. Campbell for an Honorary Doctorate of Letters earlier this year.
Maria Campbell is a celebrated author, playwright, teacher, respected Elder and community worker. She was one of the first Indigenous women in Canada to write the story of her life. Her groundbreaking memoir Half-Breed, published in 1973, told the story of a young woman who overcame the impacts of racism, sexism, and poverty. Her book began the watershed of Indigenous writing in Canada that continues today. In 2008-09, she was the University of Winnipeg’s Carol Shields Writer in Residence.
Dr. Campbell was unfortunately unable to travel to Winnipeg for Spring Convocation on June 14. University of Winnipeg President Annette Trimbee thought it would be fitting to deliver the honorary doctorate to Maria in her home community. The unique event that resulted is believed to be the first of its kind for a Canadian university: the hand-delivery of an honorary doctorate to the recipient’s home. The home in this case was Maria’s summer residence at the historic Gabriel’s Crossing on the South Saskatchewan River with Trimbee awarding the honorary doctorate to Campbell with members of the University and Maria’s family, friends, Elders, and community members in attendance to celebrate.
Events over the two days included the ceremonial conferring of the degree, visits to Batoche, the Gabriel Dumont Institute, Remai Modern art museum, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, and an evening of celebration hosted by the Crossing Theatre Company with fiddle music, performance poetry, and song, as well as a chance for visitors to learn to jig and square dance.
Along with Paul, the English Department was represented by faculty member Doris Wolf and students Alannah Levandosky, Thamer Linklater, and Miranda McLeod. The English Department extends its sincere appreciation to Maria for welcoming us to Gabriel's Crossing and allowing us to camp at her summer home, and to Cheryl Troupe at the Crossing Theatre Company for her kind assistance in organizing our visit.