Leighanne Gardipy is one of 358 Aboriginal students graduating from the University of Saskatchewan this week.
Gardipy is receiving a degree in law and is also a recipient of the DIVA Foundation scholarship and the Canadian Bar Association’s Saskatchewan Branch award of excellence.
However, for the time being, she’s decided to put her legal career on hold while she pursues politics.
Gardipy was elected to the band council of the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation this past spring.
She says her mom Remonda, who was the first female chief of Beardy’s, played a large role in her decision to run for council.
“I saw the passion in her and I saw the good things she had done and I was really inspired by that as well,” she says. “And I saw that now I am finishing up school I wanted to move in that direction as well and come home and help my people.”
Interestingly enough, as Gardipy was elected to the Beardy’s council in March, Remonda was defeated in the race for chief by Richard Gamble.
Former Brian Mulroney era cabinet minister Bill McKnight is also being honoured at this week’s convocation ceremonies.
The Saskatchewan MP held a number of portfolios in the Progressive Conservative government of the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
For his achievements he is being awarded an honourary doctor of laws degree.
McKnight says he believes his greatest achievement while in government was being part of the team that created the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement in 1992.
“It’s the province that’s gone the furthest to meet those outstanding claims that were identified at that time,” he says. “Other provinces, Manitoba has done a little bit but not near the number of acres and settlement claims that we have in Saskatchewan.”
McKnight also served as Saskatchewan’s Treaty Commissioner from 2007-2012 and is an honourary chief of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
About 10 per cent of this spring’s grads are Aboriginal and this is the highest number at the university in the past five years.