REGINA - The University of Regina has stripped Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond of an honorary doctor of laws degree that it bestowed on her in 2003.
The university confirmed the news in a news release Monday, following a review after revelations came to light that Turpel-Lafond had falsified claims of Indigenous heritage or ancestry.
The review came, said the university, after requests from the Indigenous Women’s Collective and other concerned individuals to revoke any honorary degrees awarded to her.
The university states they “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.”
A motion to rescind the honorary degree was passed by the University of Regina’s Senate on Feb. 10, 2023 and notification has been provided to Turpel-Lafond, according to the university's statement.
“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,” the university stated.
The University of Regina also acknowledged a statement from the Indigenous Women’s Collective that those who falsely represent their Indigenous identity “engage in colonial violence by stealing Indigenous identity from a place of privilege; they hijack pathways designed to combat systemic barriers facing Indigenous people and take limited space and resources.”
In response to the move, the Indigenous Women’s Collective issued a news release which states the organization “applauds the decisive action taken by the University on rescinding the honorary doctorate it awarded her in May 2003.”
“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.”
The Collective has also sent requests to 11 universities to rescind Turpel-Lafond of other honorary degrees and the organization states that five have issued public statements that they would conduct reviews of the honorary degrees. Turpel-Lafond has voluntarily returned degrees to Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University.
In another statement released by the Collective, they have also requested the Governor General review and terminate the Order of Canada awarded to Turpel-Lafond.
