Honorary degree recipient

Chief Stephen Augustine, Hereditary Chief on the Mi’Kmaq Grand Council, will receive an honorary doctorate of letters at the 40th Fall Convocation Ceremony. Honorary degrees are granted to individuals who exemplify those values cherished by our Academic Community.

Chief Stephen Augustine

Chief Stephen Augustine

Chief Stephen Augustine, Hereditary Chief on the Mi’Kmaq Grand Council will receive an honorary doctorate of letters in Saint John on Friday, Oct. 14. Chief Augustine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Political Science from St. Thomas University, a Master of Arts in Canadian Studies from Carleton University. He was appointed Dean of Cape Breton University’s Unama’ki College in 2013, then Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Affairs and Unama’ki College, and is now Executive Director of the Donald Marshall Junior Institute.

A renowned Elder and Mi’Kmaq scholar, Stephen is dedicated to supporting education through Indigenous ways of knowing and fostering an environment for collaboration between organizations.

Stephen’s book, Mi'kmaq and Maliseet Cultural Ancestral Material: National Collections from the Canadian Museum of Civilization, has proven to be a valuable resource for educators and researchers in understanding Indigenous culture. In 2009, Chief Augustine was awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for his outstanding work in supporting the recognition and teaching of first nations culture, heritage and spirituality. In addition to his personal accomplishments, he is viewed as a respected supporter for the Indigenous community and serves as the Elder advisor for the Federal Court of Canada Judges, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Human rights Commission of Canada.

Most recently, Chief Augustine was appointed to the Order of Canada, for 2022, where he was recognized for his efforts in advancing Mi’kmaq studies and sharing his scholarly expertise and traditional knowledge with private and public organizations.