Indigenous Studies pays tribute to Peter George
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/snp.jpg” caption=”Rebecca Jamieson, Director of Six Nations Polytechnic, presents University President Peter George with a soapstone carving of an eagle. “]
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A scholarship established at Six Nations Polytechnic in Peter George's name was among the gifts the President received during a heartfelt send-off held by the Indigenous Studies Program (ISP) earlier this week at the University Club.
Indigenous Studies is near-and-dear to the President's heart, and his assistance in bringing the Program into being was acknowledged by organizers many times during the three-hour lunch and presentation.
Dawn Martin-Hill, director of ISP, related the long struggle and the many people at both Six Nations and McMaster who were instrumental in establishing Indigenous Studies at McMaster. She was an outspoken and determined undergraduate in sociology in 1989 when she first approached George, then-dean of social sciences, and demanded to know why the University was not supporting indigenous students. A combination of advocacy by leaders of Canada's First Nations, such as Manitoba MP Elijah Harper, Lubicon Cree Chief Bernard Ominiyak, Confederacy Chief Harvey Longboat and McMaster faculty such as Professors Harvey Feit, Art Heidelbrecht, and William Coleman eventually led to the establishment of the Indigenous Studies Program in 1991.
Today, the Program offers 14 courses a year to more than 200 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, and First Nations students are flourishing in a variety of disciplines. Last year, 12 Aboriginal students graduated from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Clearly moved by the presentation, George said he considered ISP one of his proudest achievements.
Acting-director of ISP, Rick Monture, presented to George a pen-and-ink drawing entitled, The Great Peace, by Six Nations artist Raymond Skye.
Rebecca Jamieson, Director of Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP), also presented to George a soapstone carving of an eagle (replicating the SNP logo) by Native artist Cyril Henry, and announced that they were naming a scholarship after George, which will be given annually to two students in the Language Diploma Program who showed outstanding proficiency in the Mohawk and Cayuga languages.
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