Chief Tammy Cook-Searson with her honorary degree. Photo courtesy Tammy Cook-Searson, Facebook
Congratulations are rolling in from across northern Saskatchewan after one of its leaders received an honorary doctorate.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson was one of three people to receive the University of Regina’s highest honour at spring convocation late last week. She received a Doctorate of Laws.
When U of R President Vianne Timmons called Cook-Searson to tell her she’d been nominated, Cook-Searson made sure to say she was accepting the honour on behalf of her community.
“Without the knowledge that I’ve gained, and wisdom that I’ve gained, from so many people from our Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the community – the hunters, the trappers, the fisherman and all the people within our communities – I wouldn’t be receiving the award,” she said.
That wisdom has been shared through Elders and through talks at community functions she’s attended in 19 years as a representative for LLRIB; first as a band councillor in 1997 and as chief since 2005.
Cook-Searson’s photos show her on stage wearing her headdress. She was joined by a large entourage of more than a dozen friends, family members, and former coworkers.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson with her son Pissim. Photo courtesy Tammy Cook-Searson, Facebook
Cook-Searson’s daughter Vanessa wasn’t able to be there, but for good reason as she was in clinical for her third year of nursing. There was a reminder of her daughter though, as she stood on stage before a large number of nursing graduates.
“It was just really nice to be a part of the ceremony and to be among the amazing group of people, and their friends and family,” she said.
Musician Jack Semple and his businessman brother Gavin Semple were the other two recipients. President Timmons invited the trio and their families to a dinner with fellow higher-ups from the U of R and First Nations University the night before convocation. Cook-Searson said it was nice to get to know the different work they do and contributions they make to the province and to the country.