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Nunavummiuq serves as Laval's first Indigenous mace bearer

Salima Autut Thibault fulfills role at university's grad ceremony, making history after 152 years

Laval University made its own history on June 18 when Salima Autut Thibault stood proudly holding the university's mace at this year’s graduation ceremony.

“I feel so honoured,” said Thibault in an interview with Nunavut News. She is the first person of Indigenous heritage to fulfill the ceremonial role in the 172-year history of the Quebec City university. The position is an honour awarded to a graduate who has made a significant impact on student life, and represents the student body as a whole. Historically, the mace-bearer was present to protect the people of significance on stage. It is now a ceremonial position of high honour, given to someone who exemplifies “good morals and values.”

Thibault, who comes from Rankin Inlet, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the digital arts. She said she's eager to visit the Kivalliq now that she is free of student commitments. In addition to maintaining good grades, she was also student council vice-president and later president, as well as helping to make student films and put on the Gala Basa, an annual “Oscars-like event” at the university, where student films are celebrated and recognized by judges from the industry. It averages attendance of 800-900 people, showcasing about 120 films.

Thibault’s family in Nunavut, as well as Alberta and B.C., were able to watch the graduation ceremony digitally. Her next steps are a long trip to Europe and applying for her masters in digital arts at top universities in France and the United Kingdom.

“I feel very proud for the whole community,” she said of her Nunavut heritage, also thanking the Kivillaq Inuit Association (KIA) “who had sponsored me throughout my studies with funding. They allowed me to focus wholly on my studies... it was a good day at the ceremony. A big day for First Nations, Inuit and the Metis community. I feel very honoured to be a part of the University of Laval’s history.”



Kira Wronska Dorward

About the Author: Kira Wronska Dorward

I attended Trinity College as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, graduating in 2012 as a Specialist in History. In 2014 I successfully attained a Master of Arts in Modern History from UofT..
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