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In a special ceremony on campus, ¶¡Ïã³ÉÈËÉçÇø awarded an honorary degree to Wolastoqiyik Two-Spirit song carrier, composer, activist, and ethnomusicologist Jeremy Dutcher.

“For reviving and promoting Indigenous language and song, for revitalizing and sharing his culture with the world, and for continually creating something artistically new and exciting, we are very pleased to honour Jeremy Dutcher,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. M. Nauman Farooqi. 

Dutcher is a two-time Polaris Music Prize winner, earning the prestigious award for his first two albums. He has scored the Atlantic Ballet production of Pizuwin—a first-of-its-kind Wolastoq story-ballet—and the film Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts). In 2022, his family launched Kehkimin, the first Wolastoqey language immersion school. The Doctor of Letters honoris causa was bestowed by Chancellor Sandra Irving.

“When I look out and I see that our language is strong, and spoken here today so beautifully, and our songs are strong because they’re sung so beautifully—together nonetheless—it can’t help but be a celebration,” Dutcher said. “Not just for me and what I’m doing here, but for all of us.”

Many of Dutcher’s friends and family members were in attendance to celebrate the occasion, including his parents Lisa Perley-Dutcher and Stephen Dutcher, and his brother Shane Dutcher.

Passamaquoddy elder, teacher, and song carrier Maggie Paul, who was an early teacher and mentor for Dutcher also attended. Dutcher expressed what a “true and deep honour” it was to receive this recognition in her presence.

“I very much lay what I’ve been able to do in my life at the feet of Maggie Paul and her ceremonies,” Dutcher said. “I share this with her wholeheartedly.”

Paul is a fellow STU honorary degree recipient.

At the event, Dutcher was gifted two eagle feathers—one from STU’s Elder-in-Residence Ron Tremblay and one from his parents—to acknowledge, honour, and celebrate this achievement.

“The eagle feather is a very special gift that we give to a person who does something great,” said Tremblay.

“We don’t take this lightly. It’s a heavy gift. It comes with responsibilities, because once you’re gifted with something as powerful and great as an eagle feather, it brings more responsibility.”

In his address, Dutcher took the time to teach his audience a couple of Wolastoqey words, including ‘Kehkimin.’

“Kehkimin,” he said along with his audience. “It means teach me. It’s a request.”

“I hope that as we come to know Indigenous language more deeply,” he added, “we can understand the philosophy that lays underneath. Which is to say, every teacher is a learner, and every learner is a teacher. And if we really live that philosophy, maybe we can find each other—for the first time.”