Six Nations educator named to Order of Canada
The president of Six Nations Polytechnic, a local Indigenous lawyer and activist and four McMaster University professors have been named to the Order of Canada.
They were among 105 named Friday by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to the prestigious order, which recognizes outstanding service to Canada and to humanity.
Under the leadership of Rebecca Jamieson, Six Nations Polytechnic has grown, including adding the first-of-its-kind bachelor of arts in Ogwehoweh Languages program and STEAM Academy high school at its expanded Brantford campus.
Jamieson, who has worked in Indigenous education for 30 years, said she shares this honour with everyone at Six Nations Polytechnic and its partners.
“It’s that collaborative energy,” she said.
“This is an acknowledgement that that energy matters.”
The work they do at Six Nations Polytechnic is about reclamation of language and culture and also about reconciliation, Jamieson said.
Beverley Jacobs, a Six Nations lawyer, is recognized for promoting the rights of Indigenous women and girls, most notably as the lead researcher of the Stolen Sisters report.
The 2004 Amnesty International report outlined discrimination and violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada.
“I was actually quite shocked because I’m always so critical of Canada and its government,” Jacobs said about being chosen for the honour.
The McMaster recipients include Andrea Baumann, associate vice-president of global health in the Faculty of Health Sciences. “I am fortunate to have had many leadership positions within and outside of McMaster University in relation to nursing, capacity-building and transnational collaboration,” she said in a news release.
Mohit Bhandari, professor of surgery for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, is honoured for his work in orthopedic trauma and intimate partner violence.
“Having spent the majority of my career at McMaster, I’m reminded of the uniqueness of our institution and the role models who have been critical to my ongoing growth and development.”
Jamal Deen, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is appointed for his work in electrical engineering and applied physics. “Dr. Deen is internationally recognized as a leader in applied science and engineering,” said dean of McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering Ishwar Puri in a news release.
Jack Gauldie is professor emeritus of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and vice-president of research for the St. Joseph’s Health System. He’s honoured for discoveries in gene therapy and contributing to the development of cancer vaccines.
Gauldie called it “a fantastic honour to be recognized in this manner,” thanking colleagues, staff, students and a supportive university for contributing to advancements.
The recipients will be honoured in a ceremony in Ottawa later this year.