CAMPUS NEWS
STFX OFFERS ALL GRADUATES DEGREE PARCHMENTS IN MI’KMAW
When the StFX Class of 2021 received their graduation degree parchments during Spring Convocation, each graduate received two parchments—one in the traditional Latin and one in Mi’kmaw, the traditional language of the Mi’kmaq people, the original people of this territory. Going forward, all graduating StFX students will receive two parchments – one in Mi’kmaw and one in Latin. “The Mi’kmaw language degree on your parchment is a demonstration of this university’s respect and honour for our shared treaty relationship. We are all treaty people,” StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin said during Convocation as he announced the significant change and privilege graduates will enjoy.
The idea originated with Terena Francis ’01 ’20, StFX Coordinator, Indigenous Student Affairs, who brought the initial inquiry to Tara Buksaitis, Registrar & Director of Enrolment Planning. “I felt it was important to listen to the students,” says Ms. Francis who said the idea stemmed from conversations she has had with students throughout the years. A few students would mention it would be nice if they could have their degree parchments given in Mi’kmaw rather than Latin. “Truthfully and respectfully, the Latin language does represent colonization, we don’t expect for your languages to be dismissed, however, we do expect for our Mi’kmaw language to be included,” was a common theme of those conversations. “I really believe it is a step towards reconciliation,” Ms. Francis says. “This Mi’kmaw parchment provides a sense of belonging. Honouring languages is also a key step forward in ensuring First Nations people can revitalize the language.” Elder and linguist Barbara Sylliboy of Eskasoni First Nation translated the parchment into Mi’kmaw, and StFX is grateful for her work translating the parchment. Jeneva Dennis ’21 says receiving the Mi’kmaw parchment made her feel proud as an Indigenous student and mother. “I was able to show my five-year-old daughter that I achieved this degree and read the degree to her in Mi’kmaw where she was very happy as well for me! I was shocked to have my degree written in my language, but it’s amazing to see that a university like StFX was able to provide this degree to me this way. It is something very special to me that I hold very close within my identity. In a couple of years, I’ll have another degree with a B.Ed. I’m proud to be a part of the first year the university distributed the diplomas in Mi’kmaq.”
STFX STUDENT NAMED 3M NATIONAL STUDENT FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT
Devon Parris ’21
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StFX ALUMNINEWS l SUMMER 2021
Devon Parris ’21, an honours English graduate, has been named a 2021 3M National Student Fellowship Award recipient—one of only 10 students from across the country to receive the honour. The fellowship is awarded to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their lives, at their post-secondary institution. Mr. Parris of Kingston, ON is a former varsity athlete and a recipient of one of six inaugural Racial Justice Leadership Grants from StFX’s Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership. He has been a guest panelist on the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government’s 2020 Election Panel, involved in planning StFX’s 2022 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Summit (a conference that spotlights BIPOC academics and students in Atlantic Canada), and appeared at national and regional undergraduate conferences to discuss anti-racist discourse in film.
