Barbara Dumont-Hill was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 12:30 p.m. ceremony on Friday, June 16, “in recognition of her outstanding contributions as an advisor and community volunteer working to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples.”
Dumont-Hill was born on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Reserve as the tenth of 13 children born to courageous Algonquin parents descended from a long line of Anishinabeg. She is Turtle Clan and has been following the red road for over 35 years.
Dumont-Hill’s path has inspired her to honour and empower Indigenous women and youth. She has worked with local and national organizations and institutions and spent two years as an Elder adviser to the Canadian Department of Justice legal team working with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
At Carleton, Dumont-Hill is a knowledge-keeper with the Ojigkawanong Centre, providing personal supports to students and faculty.
She continues to promote reconciliation by facilitating Blanket Exercises that teach
true Canadian Indigenous history and deepens her culture by studying her language, drumming and singing songs that honour her ancestors.