News

CSFS Spirit Bear Receives Honorary 'Bearister' Degree from Osgoode

July 18, 2017

We are super excited to announce that the CSFS Spirit Bear is the first bear to ever received an honorary degree from Osgoode Hall Law School! He is the only stuffed animal to receive an honorary degree in Canadian History. The only other 'non-human' character rumored to have received a degree was Big Bird in the 1970’s.

Spirit Bear received an honorary ‘bearister’ degree for his work in witnessing the First Nations Child Welfare Human Rights Tribunal. Spirit Bear's owner Cindy Blackstock, member of the Gitxsan First Nation, received an Honorary Doctorate degree for her hard work in addressing the inequalities experienced by First Nations Children and Youth in Care. We are so proud and humbled by the amazing things Cindy has accomplished for First Nations kids!

CSFS Spirit Bear was gifted to Cindy Blackstock from Mary Teegee in 2008 as Cindy worked on addressing the systemic inequalities experienced by First Nations Children involved in Welfare – the case which is currently before the Human Rights Tribunal. Spirit bear has been there ‘bearing witness’ throughout every one of the court proceedings and has compassionately listened to the experiences of children, youth, and adults who have also witnessed the hearings first hand.

Throughout the years, Spirit Bear has been gifted with beautiful regalia and has had the pleasure to meet many caring and compassionate people involved in First Nations reconciliation efforts. To view the full ‘Bearing Witness' gallery of photos - check out his blog spot on the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Website.

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Last modified: Wednesday 03-Apr-24 12:36:29 PDT

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CSFS Spirit Bear Receives Honorary 'Bearister' Degree from Osgoode

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