SASKATOON — Dr. Verna St. Denis (PhD), professor emerita in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), has been honoured for her groundbreaking work in Indigenous strategy.
St. Denis is the inaugural recipient of a new award bestowed on behalf of the University of Saskatchewan Retirees Association (USRA). The award recognizes meaningful and significant contributions of a USask individual retiree or a pair or group that includes one or more USask retirees, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, towards achieving one or more of the commitments of the foundational document “ohpahotân/oohpaahotaan - Let’s Fly Up Together” Indigenous Strategy for the university.
“We extend our appreciation to Provost Airini and Dr. Angela Jaime, vice-provost Indigenous Engagement, and her colleagues, for their invaluable input in the establishment of the ohpahotân/oohpaahotaan award and the selection of Verna St. Denis as the first most worthy and outstanding recipient,” said USRA co-chair Merry Beazely.
In January 2021, St. Denis was appointed special advisor to the president on anti-racism and anti-oppression to lead a strategic vision for USask to work towards its goals in equity, diversity and inclusion.
She has made significant contributions to anti-racist education and advocacy and contributes wholeheartedly to the seven commitments of the “ohpahotân | oohpaahotaan - Let’s Fly Up Together” Indigenous Strategy, gifted to USask in 2021, on behalf of Indigenous Peoples, as a companion to the University Plan 2025.
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
