{"id":68646,"date":"2020-10-16T14:11:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T18:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=68646"},"modified":"2020-10-26T16:34:33","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T20:34:33","slug":"cheechoos-time-as-chancellor-was-significant-for-brock-and-for-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2020\/10\/cheechoos-time-as-chancellor-was-significant-for-brock-and-for-her\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheechoo\u2019s time as Chancellor was significant for Brock and for her"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Fall Convocation in October 2015, moments after being installed as the first female and first Indigenous Chancellor in the history of Brock University, Shirley Cheechoo spoke in a calm, even voice about racism and the struggles faced by First Nations people.<\/p>\n

\u201cI come from a background where, when we spoke, our voices were not heard,\u201d said Cheechoo, a member of the Cree Nation who survived the trauma of residential schools and went on to become an award-winning filmmaker. \u201cWe still feel marginalized, excluded and devalued.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it soon became evident that part of her intent that day was to inspire the hall full of graduates and their families to go out and make society a better, fairer place.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Former Brock University Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHealing is the first step on the road to empowerment,\u201d she told the hushed audience. \u201cI took this position to make a difference, and I worked hard to move beyond old racial wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now five years later, Cheechoo is concluding her term and making way for her successor Hilary Pearson. There will be no crowded auditorium this time. The realities of a pandemic have made Fall Convocation 2020 an online affair, albeit one that resonates with the celebration of Brock\u2019s newest graduates; the bestowing of an honorary degree on another exceptional Canadian, Lieutenant-General, the Honorable Rom\u00e9o Dallaire; and a remarkable virtual installation of the University\u2019s incoming Chancellor.<\/p>\n

Cheechoo will be remembered by many as an inspiring influence among students and faculty, someone whose very presence raised a broader understanding of the importance of inclusivity and helped advance the culture at Brock.<\/p>\n

Her tenure aligned with a wide scope of achievements, from the major milestone of a university welcoming its 100,000th graduate, to seeing the institution realize its next phase of maturity as witnessed by a new Strategic Plan and initiatives like the President\u2019s Advisory Committee for Human Rights, Equity and Decolonization.<\/p>\n

It was during her tenure as Brock\u2019s Chancellor that Cheechoo also received the Order of Canada, in May 2019.<\/p>\n

Brock President Gervan Fearon said Cheechoo\u2019s influence on the University is a legacy that will benefit students and the entire Brock community for many years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cChancellor Cheechoo\u2019s presence has been a very significant factor in Brock\u2019s development in fostering a more inclusive university community,\u201d said Fearon. \u201cWe owe her a debt of gratitude and wish her the very best in the future, and she will remain a part of the Brock family forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her final address as Chancellor<\/a>, which she recorded for the online Fall Convocation page, Cheechoo reflects poignantly on her relationship with Brock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all struggle to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is particularly true for me because of my personal journey. For a significant period of my life, I have felt that I was unseen and unheard. I have felt like I was under water, struggling, until someone reached down and pulled me to the surface, allowing me to breathe.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock University was one of those hands that pulled me up and allowed me to broaden my scope, so that my voice can be heard in other spaces and places.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy role as Chancellor of Brock University is closely aligned with my passion for supporting and investing in young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people like yourselves bring a unique and valuable perspective to your communities, and the wider world. Sometimes your voices are muffled and silenced by those in authority, however I want to encourage all of you to speak up. Speak your truth loud, and speak it often, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for you and the listener.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t