REGINA — The University of Regina has bestowed honorary Doctor of Laws degrees on Sol and Elsie Sanderson this week.
The two received the honorary degrees at the convocation ceremony on Wednesday afternoon on the University of Regina campus, the first of four convocation ceremonies happening over three days.
According to a statement from the university, the Sandersons are receiving the honours for having “each made transformational contributions to Indigenous governance, education, and community leadership. Sol and Elsie have helped shape generations of Indigenous leaders through their work advancing First Nations sovereignty, strengthening institutions, preserving traditional knowledge, and supporting families and communities across Saskatchewan and Canada.”
In introducing them at convocation on Wednesday, Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann of First Nations University of Canada said Sol and Elsie are “two people that cannot be viewed apart because much of what they do is done as one.
“Together, Elsie and Sol Sanderson have dedicated more than half a century to advancing Indigenous rights, strengthening Indigenous institutions, revitalizing Indigenous knowledge systems and empowering future generations through education. Their contributions have shaped not only First Nations and Métis communities, but also the very institutions that continue to serve Indigenous peoples today.”
Born at James Smith Cree Nation in 1941, Sol has served as chief of James Smith First Nation, chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, and was a founding leader of the Assembly of First Nations. Ottmann said Sol’s leadership was paramount in securing the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights through Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
“Yet, among his most enduring achievements was his commitment to Indigenous education. Sol Sanderson helped establish some of the most significant Indigenous-controlled institutions in Canada, including the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre, SICC, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, SIIT, and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, now First Nations University of Canada.”
Ottmann said of Elsie, born in Cumberland House, that she has devoted her life to preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge, and has dedicated herself to strengthening families, communities and future generations through traditional teachings and cultural renewal as an educator, researcher, curriculum developer, cultural adviser and elder.
“Elsie's leadership helped shape many of the foundational institutions and governance structures that emerged during a transformative period in Indigenous history. Working within the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, she played critical roles in organizational development, policy implementation, and institutional building. Her work often occurred behind the scenes, but its impact continues to be felt throughout Indigenous education today. Beyond her institutional contributions, Elsie has become widely respected as a cultural teacher and knowledge keeper. For more than 35 years, she has shared teachings on Indigenous philosophies, worldviews, treaty relationships, parenting, family healing, traditional life skills, and community wellness …
“Their partnership has been one of shared purpose, mutual support, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of Indigenous peoples. While Sol often stood at the forefront of national political movements, Elsie provided the steady intellectual, cultural, and organizational leadership that helped sustain those efforts and ensure they remain grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems. The institutions they helped build continue to educate students, revitalize languages, strengthen communities, and advance Indigenous self-determination.”
Speaking to reporters prior to the ceremony, Sol Sanderson noted this will be his 70th year of involvement in First Nations politics, having started out when he was 15 years old.
He said that when he first started out, he was taken aside by two elders.
“First one took me aside and he said, ‘you're a young leader, and you're going to be making plans for us. I want you to know, you have to know their history, and our history. If you don't know that, you'll be making plans that create obstacles for the next generation. That's not your job as a young leader. And as our leader, the plans you make have to be designed so that they can build on your plans.’ So that's what I've been doing.”
He said another elder said, “‘you're very impatient as a young leader.’ He said, ‘I'll tell you one thing, he says, politics, changes in politics is a major struggle and challenge for all of us. But 100 years of political change is like one year in your lifetime. And you're going to learn that as you go.’ So spending 70 years in the business, I understand what that message was then. And yeah, there's been a lot of major changes. And the successful ones, like the schools that were built back then, were joint schools in urban centres in the rural areas.”
One highlight he pointed to was in 1972, when as chief of James Smith they started Indian control of education.
“And we examined the stats available for our people employed in education. And we found that six Indians were employed in education provincewide, five Indians in university and teacher's college, and one graduate a year from Grade 12 provincewide. That was 1972,” he said.
“So if we didn't do what we did, you wouldn't see the thousands now graduating from university and high school. And many of our people now employed, like 28,000 just in Saskatchewan alone, being employed in education. And if we do that in every sector, we won't have any unemployment. And that's the goal that we have to strive for.”
“It's on its way. It's got some ways to go,” Elsie said when asked if she could have envisioned the university and the First Nations University of Canada today.
“That's our dream. There's so many of us that were involved in it. I'm talking thousands. That's our work together to make it a reality. And it has certainly changed education in terms of numbers and quality and what we need to know through FNUC.”
Speaking to reporters, University of Regina president Jeff Keshen noted the importance of recognizing Indigenous leaders in the province, such as Sol and Elsie Sanderson.
“So 13 per cent of our university population is Indigenous, what I find really uplifting is that we see more and more role models for Indigenous youth in more and more professions. We are seeing them now graduate in science, and business, and health studies.
“I think the future is incredibly bright. Sol and Elsie are examples, just like our Chancellor Cadmus Delorme. In my lifetime, I will tell you that I have really seen change and substantive change. We know that they carry forward trauma from the past, that's going to stay for some time yet, but I do see progress, and I see it in the young people, and I see it in the different avenues that they are pursuing, and I think we can be very proud of that fact.”
