Kokum Singled Out For Academic Excellence

Kokum Singled Out For Academic Excellence

Monday, October 23, 2006 at 14:13

The University of Regina has awarded one of its top academic awards to a great-grandmother from a northern Saskatchewan First Nation.

Bernadette Hillier, of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation’s Beaver Lake reserve near Flin Flon, was awarded the university’s prize in Social Work during the university’s convocation Saturday in Regina.

Hillier, who has 14 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild, received the top honor for graduating with the highest grade-point-average in her social work course.

She currently works at the Flin Flon Women’s Resource Centre. She also teaches Cree and beadwork at the local friendship centre.

(with files from the Regina Leader-Post)