The University of Lethbridge will honour Dr. Leroy Little Bear on his retirement at a gala event in June.
Everyone is invited to come together on June 18 to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Leroy Little Bear, the University of Lethbridge’s inaugural vice-provost, Indigenous relations, and to support the establishment of an endowed student award that will continue his legacy.
After a lifetime of educational service, Little Bear is concluding his official role at the University of Lethbridge in June.
Little Bear was instrumental in establishing Canada’s first Native American Studies department (now Indigenous Studies) at the university in 1975.
Little Bear is one of the leading experts on Indigenous governance in Canada and an internationally renowned advocate for First Nations education and governance.
Born and raised on the Blood Indian Reserve, Little Bear was one of the first Indigenous students to complete a program of study at the University of Lethbridge.
“Leroy’s counsel and vision have defined Indigenization at the University of Lethbridge since the very early days of the campus,” said Shanda Webber, director of Indigenous relations at the university. “He has made invaluable contributions to our university, our country and the world,”
“With his guidance, the university has undertaken actions that meaningfully respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and leads efforts towards decolonization and reconciliation. Staying true to Blackfoot values of relationality and community, this event is an opportunity for us to come together to recognize Leroy’s impact and to support Indigenous education.”
The Iikaisskini Indigenous Studies Gala: An Evening in Celebration of Dr. Leroy Little Bear will take place on Thursday, June 18 at Excite Lethbridge.
Proceeds from the gala, along with donations, will be used to establish an endowed scholarship in Little Bear’s name for Indigenous students studying Indigenous Studies at the university.
“Leroy has dedicated his life’s work to Indigenous Studies and to supporting the success of Indigenous students in post‑secondary education,” said Matthew Letts, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science. “In the spirit of giving back to students, the Iikaisskini Indigenous Studies Scholarship honours Leroy and his foundational role serving as chair of the Department of Native American Studies for 21 years.”
This capstone event during National Indigenous History Month leads into National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.
The University of Lethbridge and the Faculty of Arts and Science present this event in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Native American Studies (now Indigenous Studies).
It honours the more than 50 years of Little Bear’s many contributions to Iniskim and international work advocating for First Nations education, rights, self-governance, language and culture.
From January 1998 to June 1999, Little Bear served as director of the Harvard University Native American Program.
He was instrumental in the creation of a bachelor of management in First Nations Governance at University of Lethbridge, the only program of its kind in the country at the time.
His 1994 book Pathways to Self-Determination is used by law, political science and Native American Studies students across the country.
Little Bear’s 1977 paper, A Native Concept of Title, was the first Indigenous-authored paper cited by the Supreme Court of Canada.
In the spring of 2003, Little Bear was awarded the prestigious National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Education, the highest honour bestowed by the First Nations community in Canada.
Along with his wife, Amethyst First Rider, Little Bear also brought about the historic Buffalo Treaty between First Nations on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border in 2014.
Little Bear was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Order of Canada in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
“The University of Lethbridge, Iniskim, is such an important part of my life, and I am so honoured to have committed many years of service to this special place in Siksikaitsitapi territory that I know and love,” Little Bear said.
