An accomplished former Chief of Poundmaker First Nation is the recipient of an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Blaine Christopher Favel, a former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Grand Chief and currently the CEO of One Earth Oil and Gas, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree last week from the university during their spring convocation ceremonies in Saskatoon.
In receiving the honorary degree, the University described Favel as "an influential Plains Cree leader who has made significant contributions to scholarship, education, public service and the Canadian public good."
The Calgary-based father of five can point to a long list of accomplishments during his long career in the public and private sector.
As Poundmaker chief, Favel was credited with establishing the first community-based justice program for First Nations with the introduction of sentencing circles on reserves. As FSIN Grand Chief he pioneered the establishment of the First Nations Bank of Canada as well as the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.
He implemented the 1996 Treaty Implementation Process under the supervision of the office of Treaty Commissioner with the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan.
Favel was also credited with initiating the influential 1996 demographic study entitled "Saskatchewan and Aboriginal Peoples in the 21st Century: Social Economic and Political Changes and Challenges." It is a study seen as a reference document for government and business in designing education, employment and aboriginal business strategies.
Favel was also appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien as Canadian Counsellor on International Indigenous Issues, an office advising the Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister on human rights and trade issues affecting indigenous peoples globally.
He was senior personal advisor to two Assembly of First Nations National Chiefs, Ovide Mercredi and Phil Fontaine. In the private sector he worked as legal counsel with Bennett Jones and as investment banker with RBC Capital Markets energy group.
Favel is active in the volunteer sector with Calgary United Way and was member of the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness. He also served on the board of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and served on the board of governors for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.
Favel holds a B.Ed degree from the University of Saskatchewan's Indian Teachers Education Program, a law degree from Queen's University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
