‘Transformative’ Indigenous scholar to receive honorary degree from TRU

KAMLOOPS — A Māori scholar and advocate is being honoured by Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for his transformative contributions to Indigenous education, scholarship and self-determination. 

TRU announced Dr. Graham Hingangaroa Smith will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during fall convocation. 

In a news release issued Tuesday (Sept. 15), TRU says Smith challenged education systems to better serve Indigenous peoples for more than four decades. TRU credits Smith for developing Kaupapa Māori – an education framework grounded in Māori knowledge, culture and self-determination – and establishing the Māori and Indigenous doctoral program, exceeding the goal of 500 Māori PhD graduates in five years. The Māori are the Indigenous people of New Zealand. 

“His influence extends across the Pacific to Canada, where he has mentored and collaborated with Indigenous scholars and students in British Columbia,” TRU states.