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Special ceremonies at the University of Saskatchewan’s fall convocation on November 13 will award honorary doctorates of laws to two prominent Saskatchewan people, both of whom have roots in the North.

“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 distinguished careers,” said U OF S President, Peter Stoicheff, in a press release.

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“We are delighted to have this opportunity to express our gratitude and award them the University of Saskatchewan’s highest honor during our fall graduation celebrations at Merlis Belsher Place.”

Some biographical information provided by the university:

DOUG COUTHAND

Cuthand was born in 1946 and grew up in La Ronge, Ahtahkakoop First Nation and the Kanai Reserve in Alberta. After high school, he attended Simon Fraser University, then moved to Edmonton to work as editor of the Alberta Native Communications Society.

He then returned to his home province and headed communications for the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians (FSI), now known as the Federation of Sovereign Aboriginal Nations (FSIN).

Cuthand then successfully ran for the position of vice chief of the FSIN and served for five years. He was named the first chairman of the board of trustees of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, now known as the First Nations University of Canada.

He 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 for $24 million of dollars.

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After his leadership work in First Nations politics, Cuthand launched his own television production company, producing documentaries and dramas primarily focused on Indigenous themes.

For three years he hosted the CTV series Indigenous Circle and for the past 34 years he has written a column for Postmediapublished in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, the Regina Leader-Post and other Postmedia newspapers.

In 2003, he received the Best Column Award from the Native American Journalists Association.

Now semi-retired, he continues to write his column on Indigenous affairs for Postmedia and produces television series and recently completed a feature film.

Cuthand previously ran Saskatoon-based Blue Hills Productions. His director/producer credits included the miniseries Big Bear, the animated series Guardians Evolution and the 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.

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GREG SMITH FCPA, FCA

Smith was born in 1957 in Île-à-la-Crosse and spent his formative years in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

He received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979 and joined the university’s senior management team as a member of the Board of Governors from 2007 to 2017, and served as Chairman of the Board of directors from 2014 to 2016. He is also a former chairman of the Presidential Search Committee and Finance and Investment Committee.

Smith has been a member of the University of Saskatchewan’s global campaign cabinet since 2019, helping to lead the Be What The World Needs campaign. He also served on the Governance and Leadership Committee and Dean’s Circle for the Edwards School of Business.

His commitment to the community was celebrated in 2008 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Swift Current Chamber of Commerce.

His community involvement includes terms as president of the Swift Current Kiwanis Club and director of Special Olympics Saskatchewan, Swift Current United Way and the Southwest Center for Entrepreneurial Development, as well as volunteering with arts and religious organizations locally and as a minor hockey and soccer coach.

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A chartered professional accountant since 1983, he began working at Stark & ​​Marsh CPA LLP in 1984 and was a partner at the firm from 1985 to 2019; he has continued to exercise his consulting functions since 2020.

He was also a governor of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and a past president of the Saskatchewan Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Smith served on the Swift Current School Division’s Educational Advisory Board for 12 years and was an instructor at the University of Regina and Athabasca College. He received the Platinum Jubilee Medal from Queen Elizabeth II (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).

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