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Indigenous Education

Dr. Wanosts'a7 Lorna Williams appointed to the Order of Canada

November 15, 2020

A portrait of Lorna Williams

Dr. Wanosts'a7 Lorna Williams was recently appointed to the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada. A a virtual ceremony took place on December 15, 2020. Lorna received the honour for her contributions to Indigenous education and her advocacy of Indigenous language revitalization programs. 

An esteemed member of the Lil'wat First Nation, Lorna Williams is a pillar of Indigenous elementary-to-university education. Professor emerita and the first Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Learning at the University of Victoria, she is also the first director of the school’s Indigenous education program. She developed authoritative curricula in Indigenous language revitalization by using traditional teaching and learning practices. Her courses were also revolutionary for their inclusion of Indigenous pedagogy, spiritual leaders and knowledge keepers. She has indelibly strengthened language reclamation and revitalization in Canada.

Recently, Lorna was interviewed by National Chief Perry Bellegarde as a guest on the Ahkameyimok podcast as one of Canada’s leading experts on the promotion and restoration of Indigenous culture and language.