It’s Dr. Michele Rouleau on the go

On May 9 the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) celebrated its 25th anniversary and honoured Michèle Rouleau and Henri Masse with honourary doctorates in Amos.

UQAT chose to award an honourary title to Rouleau because of her extraordinary work fighting for Aboriginal women’s rights, in the communications field and as a consultant on Aboriginal affairs.

Rouleau told the Nation, “I was both surprised and touched by the doctorate. I felt it meant more in my heart because this honour was from my home region. It touched me because my roots are from that area. I feel it also acknowledged the First Nations as being part of who I am.”

Rouleau was the Executive Director of the Senneterre Native Friendship Centre, a Regional Employment Coordinator for Aboriginal Women at the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission, President of the Quebec Native Women’s Association, a Commissioner at the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission and an member of the Assembly of First Nations Renewal Commission. She has also held positions in national organizations and hosted public-affairs programs on television.

Today, Roleau is a consultant on Aboriginal affairs and a professional facilitator. She is a recipient of the Prix de la justice and the Prix droits et libertés and is also a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.

The chairperson of UQAT’s Board of Directors, Édith Cloutier, was delighted at the choice of recipients for this honour. Referring to the tremendous battles led by Rouleau, Cloutier said, “Her approach, her vision and her efforts in favour of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women’s rights deserve to be held up as a model for our society.”

Henri Masse, the other honouree, was President of the Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL), the largest labour federation in Quebec, from 1998 to 2007; prior to that, he was the QFL’s Secretary General for five years.