Favel appointed chancellor of U of S

Blaine Favel, the president of One Earth Oil and Gas and a former chief of the Poundmaker Cree Nation, has been appointed chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. Favel is an alumnus who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the university last year. He is a lawyer and former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations who holds a masters of business administration from Harvard. Although the chancellor’s role is largely ceremonial, the University of Saskatchewan is the largest post-secondary institution in the province and the title provides Favel with the opportunity to promote causes that he considers important. In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Favel said of his appointment, “I think it is a very positive signal to the Aboriginal community that the university takes their issues and their interests to heart and it is sincerely advocating for them and will continue to work hard for them, and hence the appointment of an Aboriginal chancellor. I think what it says to Canada is that it speaks to the best values of Canadians. I think Canadians rightly perceive themselves as being fair-minded and generous in spirit and that everyone has the chance to advance in this country.”