Image Credit: UVIC

By CKPG Today

UNBC

Indigenous lawyer to receive honorary degree

Apr 9, 2021 | 1:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE —UNBC will bestow an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on an Indigenous lawyer at its virtual convocation June 25.

Dr. Val Napolean is also an academic and researcher who co-established the first in the world Indigenous Law Degree program at the University of Victoria.

Dr. Napolean is Cree from the Saulteau First Nation and is an adopted member of the Gitxsan Nation.

“I am from northern B.C. where I have spent so much of my working life,” said Dr. Napoleon. “This honorary degree is a recognition from the north and of northern people so it really touches my heart. I am hoping that children, young adults, grandmothers, everyone – from every part of northern B.C. – are inspired to take up further education and that the rest of us and our institutions make this possible!”

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Dr. Napoleon received her Bachelor of Laws degree from UVic in 2001 (as a grandmother) and followed that with her PhD in 2009, also at UVic.

She will receive her Honorary Doctorate at the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences virtual ceremony at 9:30 a.m.