Carleton University has rescinded Canadian lawyer Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degree, several sources have confirmed with the Charlatan.
Turpel-Lafond, a former representative for children and youth in B.C., came under scrutiny after a 2022 CBC investigation cast doubt on her claims of Cree ancestry and several academic accomplishments, resulting in calls from the Indigenous Women’s Collective for universities to rescind her honorary degrees.
Carleton’s decision was approved in a senate meeting Feb. 24, following a review by the university’s honorary degrees committee.
“The evidence that emerged about disputed claims to both Indigenous identity and academic credentials/accolades was deemed to outweigh the accomplishments that originally warranted granting the degree,” a public statement later released by the university said.
Carleton is the second university to rescind Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degree, following the University of Regina last week. McGill University also rescinded Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degree on Feb. 24, according to an email from the university to faculty and students.
Carleton granted Turpel-Lafond the honorary doctor of law degree in 2019.
Turpel-Lafond has voluntarily returned degrees to Vancouver Island University and Royal Roads University.
Additional details on the university’s decision are not publicly available yet as the vote was held during a closed session. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed the decision with the Charlatan on background.
Winona Wheeler, a member of the Indigenous Women’s Collective and an associate professor of Indigenous studies at the University of Saskatchewan, praised the decision in an interview with the Charlatan.
“We’re hoping that other universities still investigating will follow suit,” she said.
More updates to come.
This story was last updated Feb. 24 to include a statement from the university and information on McGill University’s decision to rescind Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degree as well.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
