USask to award highest honour to two new recipients

At Fall Convocation in Merlis Belsher Place on November 13, USask will award honorary degrees to award-winning writer and Indigenous rights advocate Doug Cuthand, and to business and community leader Greg Smith, celebrating their career achievements, dedication, and lifetime of work in support of others.

USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff said the university is proud to have the opportunity to spotlight and highlight the contributions of this year’s esteemed recipients.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions that Doug Cuthand and Greg Smith have made to their communities and their province throughout their successful careers,” said Stoicheff. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to express our gratitude and to bestow on them the University of Saskatchewan’s highest honour during our Fall Convocation celebrations at Merlis Belsher Place.”

Cuthand was born in 1946 and raised in La Ronge, Ahtahkakoop First Nation, and Kanai reserve in Alberta. After completing high school, Cuthand attended Simon Fraser University before moving on to Edmonton to work with the Alberta Native Communications Society as publication editor during a time when Indigenous political organizations were just beginning to become organized. Cuthand later returned to Saskatchewan and headed up communications for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (FSI), now known as the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) representing 74 First Nations in the province. Cuthand would later successfully run for the position of Vice-Chief of FSIN and served for five years. He was named the first chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, now known as the First Nations University of Canada.

Cuthand is a member of Little Pine First Nation, a Plains Cree community in Saskatchewan, and chaired the Treaty Land Entitlement Trustees for 20 years, leading the First Nation’s purchase of 50,000 acres of land for $24 million. Following his leadership work in First Nations politics, Cuthand began his own television production company, drawing from journalistic experience and producing numerous documentaries and dramas mainly centered on Indigenous themes. For three years he hosted the CTV series Indigenous Circle, and for the past 34 years Cuthand has written a column for Postmedia, published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. In 2003, Cuthand received the Best Column Award from the Native American Journalists Association.

Now semi-retired, Cuthand continues to write an Indigenous affairs column for Postmedia and produces TV series, recently completing production of a feature film. Cuthand previously led the Saskatoon-based company Blue Hills Productions, and his director/producer credits included the mini-series Big Bear, the animation series Guardians Evolution, and NFB-produced documentaries The Gift of the Grandfathers (1997), Patrick’s Story (1999) and Donna’s Story (2001). He is also the author of Tapwe (2005) and Askiwina: A Cree World (2007).

Cuthand married his wife Pauline in 1982, and they had three children: Shawn, Shannon and Christopher.

From volunteer service to business excellence to exceptional educational leadership, Smith has long been engaged in his home community and with USask. A 1979 USask graduate (Bachelor of Commerce), Smith joined the university’s senior leadership team as a member of the Board of Governors from 2007-2017, serving as board chair from 2014-2016, and past chairs of the presidential search committee, and finance and investment committee. Smith has continued to support the university as a member of USask’s Comprehensive Campaign Cabinet since 2019, helping lead the Be What The World Needs Campaign. Smith has also served on the governance and executive committee and on the Dean’s Circle with USask’s Edwards School of Business.

Smith was born in 1957 in Ile-a-la-Crosse, Sask., and spent his formative years in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Smith’s commitment to community was celebrated in 2008 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce, honouring his service with local organizations and his commitment as a volunteer. His involvement in the community includes serving terms as president of the Swift Current Kiwanis Club and a director for the Saskatchewan Special Olympic Games, Swift Current United Way, and the Southwest Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, as well as volunteering with local arts and church organizations and as a coach in minor hockey and soccer.

A Chartered Professional Accountant since 1983, Smith began working with Stark & Marsh CPA LLP in 1984 and was a partner in the firm from 1985-2019, continuing to serve as a consultant since 2020. He was also a governor of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and past president of the Saskatchewan Institute of Chartered Accountants. Smith served on the educational advisory council for the Swift Current School Division for 12 years and was an instructor at the University of Regina and for Athabasca College. He was recognized for lifetime commitment to community when he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) in 2023.

Smith and his wife Rae have two children; daughter Mallory (husband Jon and children Cohen and Dash) and son Taylor (wife Mandy).

On November 13, Smith will be honoured during the first convocation ceremony of the day at 9 am, while Cuthand will be celebrated in the afternoon ceremony at 2 pm.

An honorary degree is the university’s most prestigious award, acknowledging worthy and unique contributions recipients have made to their community and to the world. USask recognizes individuals who have outstanding accomplishments in research, scholarly and artistic works; performed exceptional public service; contributed greatly through their professional or philanthropic activity; and demonstrated extraordinary athletic prowess. To view past recipients, visit: https://library.usask.ca/uasc/campus-history-databases/honorary-degrees

For more information on USask Fall Convocation, visit: https://students.usask.ca/academics/graduation.php