An Ojibway from the Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation, Dr. Michael DeGagné is the President and CEO of Indspire. He was appointed Nipissing University President and Vice Chancellor in 2013, becoming one of the first Indigenous presidents of a Canadian public university. He later served as the first President of Yukon University. In 1998, Dr. DeGagné became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national Indigenous organization dedicated to addressing the legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential School System. This past academic year, he was a visiting fellow at the University of St. Michael’s College and he serves on the Advisory Council for St. Michael’s Diploma in Social Responsibility & Sustainability program.
In my time as a university president, as an administrator, and in a host of other roles, I’ve sat on a lot of Convocation stages and marched in many Convocation professions. Often there’s sweltering heat – or, during winter Convocations, freezing temperatures – to contend with. However, no matter the weather, there’s always a special feeling in the air: the jubilation of the graduates and their loved ones mixed with a host of other emotions. There’s pride at this significant accomplishment, relief that the students’ hard work has paid off, and often a hint of sadness that this remarkable phase of life’s journey has come to completion. I’ve experienced many of these life-changing days and am grateful for each one.
On June 20, 2022, however, I had a wholly new Convocation experience. The University of St. Michael’s College 2022 Spring Convocation marked a significant milestone: the very first time an Eagle Feather was carried in the Convocation procession. I was both proud and honoured to have been chosen by USMC as its inaugural Eagle Feather Bearer at this pivotal moment in time, when Indigenous traditions were entwined with USMC’s Convocation, blending two types of ceremonies together into a harmonious whole.
(In a moment of serendipity, this date also fell in between the June 19 broadcast of the 2022 Indspire Awards and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. The Awards are Indspire’s celebration of Indigenous excellence; they annually honour 12 outstanding Indigenous leaders and change-makers.)
The Eagle Feather itself is a powerful symbol for Indigenous students and USMC community members. In many Indigenous cultures – including the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas of the Credit, the nations on whose traditional territories USMC stands – the Eagle Feather is considered sacred because the eagle flies closest to the Creator. It symbolizes respect, honour, strength, courage, and wisdom.
Incorporating Indigenous ceremony into events like Convocation is significant on many levels to many participants: first, obviously, to the Indigenous graduates and their loved ones. It says clearly: we recognize and honour you, your culture, and your traditions. You belong here. One of the things that I’ve heard multiple times from Indigenous post-secondary students during my time at Indspire is that they often struggle with a sense that they don’t belong at post-secondary institutions; that they feel disenfranchised and isolated when they arrive on campus. One of the many ways in which we endeavour to support Indigenous students at Indspire is listening to what they have to say about their post-secondary experiences – and effectively working with our many partners on tangible ways to change those feelings of isolation and alienation into feelings of belonging and validation.
Having the Eagle Feather at Convocation sends an unambiguous message to all graduates and their families, faculty, and administration: Indigenous students belong here at USMC, and they are valued. To current Indigenous students and alumni, it says: things have changed, and changed for the better. We are here to support you in your pursuit of your educational goals, and we value you as an integral part of the USMC community.
I believe that the presence of the Eagle Feather also speaks to the non-Indigenous members of our community to remind them that Indigenous values and communities are to be recognized, honoured, and respected. In my role as Visiting Fellow, I don’t exclusively support Indigenous students; I’m responsible for contributing to the whole community. One key lesson that emerged during my work as Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation was that true reconciliation can only be created by Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners working together. The work must be shared if it is to be both effective and enduring.
After the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – an event which disproportionately affected Indigenous students and Indigenous communities – the Spring 2022 Convocation was also noteworthy as the very first time that USMC had been able to hold an in-person Convocation celebration since the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives in 2020. Face-to-face gatherings to celebrate significant events are particularly important to Indigenous Peoples, and having the Eagle Feather honoured in this way during this gathering also recognized our collective joy at coming together in person again.
Moments like these ensure that reconciliation doesn’t just become an empty gesture. While the scope of work is considerable – and there is always more to be done – I feel hopeful and encouraged by the profound experience that I shared on June 20th with members of the USMC community. It stands as a testament to what can be done if many parties work together to effect authentic reconciliation.
As I congratulate the Class of 2022 and wish them all the best in their future endeavours, I’d also like them to hold a special moment in their memories: the moment when the Eagle Feather led the way to their Convocation. I invite all of them to carry this moment with them, remembering the significance of the Eagle Feather as they travel forth into their own bright futures. By being part of and acknowledging this historic ‘first’, they too are beginning to walk a path toward real reconciliation.
Chi miigwech,
Mike DeGagné, C.M. , President & CEO
Indspire
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