Honorary Degrees
2026
Verna DeMontigny (LL.D.)
Isabelle Verna DeMontigny grew up as a fluent speaker of Michif in a small Métis community known as Li Kwaen near Binscarth MB, before eventually moving to Brandon.
Verna has been at the heart of many Métis language and culture projects in the area and beyond, including service for the Brandon Friendship Centre, Brandon School Division, Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College and the Manitoba Metis Federation, South-West Region.
She co-founded the Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Revitalization Circle (P2WIRL), with whom she worked on the digitization of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Cree dictionary, the development of an online introductory course to Southern Michif, and the translation of multiple archived recordings. She has worked as a Mentor in the Mentor Apprentice Program (pair and house programs) for many years with both P2WIRL and the Louis Riel Institute.
Verna has also been a key leader and contributor to arts and media projects by Métis artists and creators, including Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North, Andrea Menard’s album Anskoonamakew lii Shasoon, Wookey Films projects, the Amelia Douglas Institute, First Voice Media and her own children.
She continues to engage the larger community as well in language policy (e.g. the Indigenous Languages Act and the Commission of Indigenous Languages), community events, conferences as an Elder, panelist and invited speaker (including past Mawachihitotaak conferences in Winnipeg), as well as guiding extensive research work by Métis and non-Indigenous scholars. Verna also supports learners of Michif in her community and across the country through the use of technology.