Chief Hugh Akagi: Doctor of HUMANITY

On October 1, St. Stephen’s University hosted an event to honour and celebrate Chief Hugh Akagi of the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik and his community, in which the Chief received a Doctorate of Humanities (honoris causa). His nomination for this honour came by way of SSU's Board Chair Judith Moses, who serves as the university's Indigenous Kahn-tineta.

In the words of SSU’s principal, Dr. Bradley Jersak, “‘Doctorate of Humanities’ is a technical term. Chief Hugh, in my heart, you are a Doctor of Humanity. You have not only shown us what it is to be an Indigenous leader, but also, what it means to be human.”

The event was quite different from traditional doctoral hoodings because, at the Chief’s request, he was not just honored and celebrated as an individual and recognized for individual achievements - something that he indicated would not fit with the worldview of his community and himself; instead, the event was designed to celebrate and honour all of those who had supported and joined the Chief in his decades-long efforts towards justice and recognition for his people.

While ongoing histories of colonialism, dispossession and genocide exist in every part Turtle Island (North America), the story of the Peskotomuhkati in Canada is extraordinary in several respects. Their traditional homeland along the Skutik (or St. Croix) river straddles what is now the border between Canada and the United States, and while Peskotomuhkati today live in both countries, they are only formally recognized in the US. Because they lack formal recognition as a First Nation in Canada, the Chief’s community has no access to government funding like other First Nations do. In their efforts towards formal recognition, and towards the protection of the environment in their traditional homeland, the Chief and the community have found support and friendship among Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours. At the age of 79, the Chief has touched many people’s lives with compassion, wisdom and humour, including SSU staff, faculty and students. In his brief speech during the celebration at the Huntsman Aquarium in Saint Andrews, he noted that the event mainly marked an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to his community and friends, in the SSU community and beyond, for all they have meant to him. 

Chief Dr. Akagi further added, “I was thinking when I started, that I should not do this. That is because I was thinking of ‘pride’ as an individual. Some sort of an individual honour. But, I am very proud of my people. I am very proud of my friends. You are the ones that got me here, I know this is an honour, and that’s why I need to share it.”

In fact, at his request, Chief Hugh's diploma included the following text: Chief Hugh Akagi also recognizes the contribution of the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik and these counsellors, past and present:Margaret Nelson, Rolland Sappier, Rita Fraser, Fred McGuire Harold Hartford, Phyllis Hartford, and Karen Hartford 

SSU is grateful for this landmark moment as we hope it deepens our relationship with the Peskotomuhkati people and recognizes Chief Hugh's influence in shaping our Reconciliation Studies program.