Respected Indigenous Leader and Social Justice Advocate Mary Teegee-Gray conferred with Honorary Doctor of Laws

Lheidli T’enneh Territory aka Prince George, B.C. May 29, 2026 – The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon Hereditary Chief Mary Teegee-Gray, Maaxswxw Gibuu (White Wolf), during its 2026 Convocation ceremony today.

A fierce advocate for Indigenous youth and a champion of culturally grounded healing, Teegee-Gray was recognized for her decades of leadership in reforming child and family services across northern British Columbia and Canada.

Teegee-Gray, a member of the Luxgaboo (Wolf) Clan who is Gitk’san and Carrier from the Takla Lake First Nation, has dedicated her career to systemic change rooted in traditional knowledge.

“For programs and services to actually benefit First Nations people, they have to be built on a foundation of culture and traditions, with wellness at the centre,” Teegee-Gray said. “When children are grounded in their identity and culture, they have the foundation they need to thrive.”

Photo L-R: UNBC Chancellor Elder Darlene McIntosh, Mary Teegee-Gray, Interim President & Vice Chancellor Bill Owen

A Legacy of Systemic Change and Advocacy

Teegee-Gray currently serves as the Chief Administration Officer of Child and Family Services for Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), an organization she joined more than two decades ago as Executive Director after serving as Chief Negotiator and Deputy Chief for the Takla Lake First Nation.

Throughout her tenure, Teegee-Gray has spearheaded provincial and national initiatives aimed at protecting Indigenous children and keeping them connected to their families and cultures. Her landmark contributions include:

• The CSFS Family Justice Facilitation Program: Developed in partnership with Mediate BC and UNBC, this initiative successfully certified nearly two dozen First Nation mediators to support families across northern B.C.
• The Highway of Tears Initiative: Collaborating with Indigenous partners, community organizations, and UNBC researchers, Teegee-Gray led vital efforts to address violence against Indigenous women and girls, serving as the Executive Producer for the highly acclaimed Highway of Tears documentary.
• National Child Welfare Reform: Representing British Columbia on the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, Teegee-Gray spent nearly a decade (2007–2016) working alongside Dr. Cindy Blackstock and the Assembly of First Nations on the historic Canadian Human Rights Act complaint, which successfully proved that federal underfunding of on-reserve child welfare services was racially discriminatory.

Recognized Leadership and National Impact

In addition to her operational roles, Teegee-Gray is the President of the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, Chair of the Indigenous Child and Family Directors Forum, and B.C.’s representative on the National Advisory Committee on First Nations Child and Family Services Program Reform.

An accomplished author and speaker, she also wrote and produced the award-winning documentary For Love, narrated by Shania Twain. Teegee-Gray holds a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, where she was awarded the Dean’s Convocation Medal.

Her extensive honors include the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal, the 2024 Indigenous Woman of Distinction Award, and the 2022 Prince George Community Citizen of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reflecting on the honorary doctorate, Teegee-Gray emphasized the collaborative nature of her life’s work.

“This recognition belongs to the many people I have walked alongside—Elders, families, leaders and communities—who continue to guide and inspire this work,” she said. “Together, we are creating a future where First Nations children are safe, supported and proud of who they are.”

Joni Conlon, Executive Director of the Our Children Our Way Society shared:

“It is because of leaders like Mary, and her decades of fearless advocacy, that we find ourselves at a truly momentous time in history — a time where Indigenous communities are reclaiming jurisdiction, reshaping systems, and building futures grounded in our own laws, traditions, and ways of caring for our children.

Mary often reminds us that we are chosen by the Creator in this work, it’s a heavy responsibility. When the Creator chose her, she accepted that responsibility with extraordinary courage and purpose. Her people and her ancestors are proud, and generations not yet born will speak of her with great respect, knowing the profound impact she made in transforming Indigenous child welfare and changing the future for children and families for generations to come.

This recognition is deeply deserved, and we are incredibly proud to walk alongside her as she continues to inspire all of us working toward a better future for our children, families, and communities.”

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For further comment, contact:

Mary Teegee, Maaxswxw Gibuu, Chair, Our Children Our Way Society, Tel: 250-612-8710

Joni Conlon, ED, Our Children Our Way Society, [email protected]