News: Convocation

Community educator and Vuntut Gwitchin elder Stanley Njootli Sr. to receive YukonU honorary doctorate degree

May 31, 2024

Stanley Njootli receiving a framed degree parchment from Dr. Lesley Brown and Dr. Ernie Prokopchuk

Stanley Njootli Sr. has long been a strong advocate for cultural revitalization in his community. As an Education Support Worker, Njootli helped re-establish land-based programs in Old Crow, integrating traditional knowledge into the school curriculum. His efforts have ensured that students gain practical skills and an understanding of their heritage through land-based learning activities such as camping, hunting, and muskrat trapping.

In recognition for his decades-long commitment to traditional knowledge and land-based learning, Yukon University will present Njootli with an honorary doctorate degree at the 2024 Convocation.

Award-winning author Ivan Coyote to receive YukonU’s first honorary doctorate degree

May 16, 2023

WHITEHORSE, YT—The stories of Ivan Coyote have brought joy to readers around the world. Their performances across three decades of live events from Anchorage to Australia have enthralled audiences, leaving them helpless with laughter and soaked with tears. Showing up to countless classrooms, libraries and gymnasiums, Coyote has shared a message of safety and compassion with students and teachers across North America, inspiring and strengthening anyone who has ever felt they didn’t fit in to take up space and live their truth.

NorthwesTel and YukonU partner to celebrate grads with virtual convocation

May 12, 2021

WHITEHORSE, YT—Yukon University has partnered with NorthwesTel Community TV to celebrate degree, diploma and certificate graduates from 2020 and 2021 virtually this Friday.

A one-hour program will air at 5:30 p.m. via NorthwesTel cable channel 209 in Whitehorse and at yukonu.ca/grad for everywhere beyond Whitehorse.

“We’re thrilled to have NorthwesTel Community TV partner with us to produce a virtual celebration of the first two graduating classes of Yukon University,” said Dr. Maggie Matear, interim president and vice chancellor.

“These students have persevered against the incredible challenge of COVID-19 in their personal, work and school lives and shown amazing resilience earning their degrees, diplomas and certificates. We hope family, friends and loved ones can join us on Friday, from across Canada and around the world, in celebrating their graduate’s remarkable achievement,” added Dr. Matear.