2024 ohpahotân | oohpaahotaan - Let’s Fly Up Together Award

Dr. Verna St. Denis is a remarkable scholar and educator. She is a member of Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation and grew up as a non-status Indian and Métis in Parkland, SK. She graduated with her teaching certificate from the Indian Teacher Education Program and went on to earn a BEd from USask, MA in Community Development from the University of Alaska and PhD in Anthropology of Education from Stanford University. On faculty at USask since 1992, her career focussed on the knowledge and experience of Indigenous teachers, provincially and nationally, and the promotion of anti-racist education. She continues to serve on committees, professional associations and community networks advancing Indigenous education, anti-racism and anti-oppression. Quoting from Verna: “My experiences with teaching anti‐racist education to primarily white preservice teachers leads me to believe there is hope, and that despite some initial resistance, we do have the research and scholarship to support a critical anti‐racist and anti‐oppressive education.” Verna retired as Professor Emerita of Educational Foundations in 2022, and subsequently was appointed by President Peter Stoicheff as Special Advisor on Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression. Verna exemplifies the principles of healing, mutual respect and shared responsibility. Throughout her 35-year career, and continuing as Special Advisor, Verna is making a lasting impact, working with the University to achieve the commitments of ohpahotân | oohpaahotaan – “Let’s Fly Up Together”: Safety, Wellness, Stewardship, Representation, Right Relations, Creation and Renewal. Her work is truly inspiring. Thank you, Verna.