Former Prime Minister Paul Martin Joins Celebration of Indigenous Education at Trent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Professors Tom Symons and Harvey McCue honoured as elders during special ceremony

Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Peterborough

Trent University founding president Tom Symons and Professor Harvey McCue were joined by the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin, Canada’s 21st prime minister, in an evening celebrating their commitment to Indigenous education, which featured an Honouring the Elders ceremony, during which both Prof. Symons and Prof. McCue were inducted as elders, followed by a panel discussion on Indigenous education in Canada.

“Prof. Symons and Prof. McCue have played an integral role positioning Trent University as a leader in Indigenous studies,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent’s president and vice-chancellor. “Their leadership in Aboriginal education in Canada and at Trent is to be admired. It is also an honour for the University to host our former Prime Minister Paul Martin as we celebrate the impressive contributions of two remarkable supporters of Indigenous education.”

During a special dinner hosted at the University, the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin joined with Dr. Franklin, chiefs from the local First Nations, provincial and federal representatives including the provincial minister of  Aboriginal Affairs, local dignitaries, Trent administrators, representatives from the Board of Governors, and Trent faculty, staff and students to recognize the contributions of Professors Symons and McCue to Indigenous education at Trent, including their role in founding the first Indigenous Studies program at a Canadian university. As part of the ceremony, Professors Symons and McCue were installed as elders at Trent University, an honour created by the Indigenous Studies Department to thank and acknowledge those who have contributed to the success and advancement of the program and of Indigenous peoples.

“On behalf of the First Peoples House of Learning team and all Trent University students, staff and faculty, we are deeply grateful for this opportunity to join our colleagues in celebrating the installation of Harvey McCue and Professor Tom Symons as elders for the Indigenous Studies Department. This honour speaks to the fundamental role in learning that elders provide at Trent,” said Emerance Baker, director of First Peoples House of Learning. “Our heartfelt appreciation is extended to the Right Honourable Paul Martin for his support in honouring the installation of his friends and colleagues as Elders and for his great accomplishments in following his ci de couer; equity in all levels of education for First Nations peoples.”

“Throughout their outstanding careers, Professors Symons’ and McCue have demonstrated a commitment to Indigenous People that is without parallel,” added Professor David Newhouse, chair of the Indigenous Studies Department at Trent. “It is with great respect that Trent University honours both men with the title of elder.”

Following the Honouring the Elders ceremony, Professors Symons and McCue joined the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin in a panel discussion on Indigenous education in Canada. Each panelist talked about the topic from their own perspective with Prof. McCue addressing education from an Indigenous perspective, Prof. Symons discussing the links between Trent University and Indigenous education and Mr. Martin speaking on Indigenous education and the national Aboriginal agenda.

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For more information, please contact: An Kosurko, communications officer, Trent University, 705-748-1011 x6182 or ankosurko@trentu.ca

Biographis and Backgrounder

Professor Tom Symons
Professor Tom Symons played a key part in the establishment of Trent University, taking on the role of president when the University opened in 1964. As President, Prof. Symons acted quickly on his long-standing interest and commitment to First Nations. In 1966 he recruited Dr. Gilbert (Slim) Monture, a member of the Six Nations, to the University’s Board of Governors, possibly the earliest, if not the first, First Nation person in Canada appointed to a university board. He also joined the Indian-Eskimo Association, a national citizen’s organization concerned with First Nations and Inuit matters. A year later he sat on the association’s National Board and by 1972 he was elected its national president. In 1969, Prof. Symons successfully introduced the new Indian-Eskimo Studies Program, making Trent the first Canadian university and one of two in North America to offer a program of studies specifically dedicated to Aboriginal issues. Under his presidency, the program evolved to a full department in 1971 (now Indigenous Studies) and he assisted in the recruitment and appointment of Indigenous scholars and holders of traditional knowledge as tenured faculty.

Prof. Symons’ commitment to Indigenous People also extended beyond his work at the University. In 1971 he assisted the formation of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. He presided over the emergence of the Canadian Association in Support of Native Peoples in 1972, and in that capacity provided support to the fledgling Native Council of Canada. As chair of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, Prof. Symons introduced a Commemoration of Northern Native History initiative in 1990-91. 

Professor Harvey McCue
Together with Prof. Symons, Harvey McCue played a key role in establishing the ground-breaking Indigenous Studies program at Trent. Through a conversation with Prof. Symons in 1968, while Professor McCue was a student at Trent University, the Indian-Eskimo Studies program was born. When the program officially started in 1969, Prof. McCue was hired to administer and teach in the program. He served as acting chair in 1971 and remained an instructor in Native Studies until his departure from the University in 1983, having attained the rank of associate professor.