The First Nations University of Canada has appointed an accomplished Aboriginal leader to its board of governors.

Dr. Thomas Dignan is a Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River.

He has been a pioneer in the Aboriginal health care field for more than 40 years, mentoring hundreds of health care professionals during this time.

Dignan is the co-founder of the Native Physicians Association of Canada and a founding member and the first president of the Native Nurses Association of Canada.

He has been appointed to a three-year term.

FNUC also announced the reappointment of Della Anaquod, Peter Carton, Peter Homenuck and Claudette Commanda to the board.

John Paul, Jocelyne Wasacase-Merasty, Gladys Christiansen and David Sharpe are the other current members of the FNUC board.