¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥

Through his teaching and mentorship, James Dempsey helped shape a generation of Indigenous scholars and leaders. (Photo: Supplied)

When Blackfoot scholar James Dempsey passed away in 2022, his loss was met with an outpouring of support, especially from the students he’d taught in the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥’s Faculty of Native Studies, his son Spencer Sumner recalls.

Known for sporting rockstar T-shirts and ballcaps and carrying an old-school briefcase to class, Dempsey connected with his students in a way that left a lasting legacy for many of them.

“So many of his former students said, ‘Your dad had a profound impact on my educational career, and it showed that I could achieve my dreams,’ ” Sumner says.

That legacy of inspiration and support for Indigenous students now lives on through the Dr. James Dempsey Resilience Award in Native Studies, a scholarship established by his family, friends and colleagues for First Nation, Inuit or Métis students.

“This endowment reflects Dempsey’s lifelong commitment to empowering Indigenous communities through education,” says Chris Andersen, dean of the Faculty of Native Studies. “By supporting Indigenous students — particularly those from Treaty 7 — to pursue their education in Native Studies, this endowment helps us honour James’s legacy, ensuring that his dedication to knowledge, community and history continues to guide and inspire future generations.”

The award exemplifies how donors are helping to Shape the Future for students, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. Through the fundraising campaign, donor support expands access to transformative experiences, including for Indigenous students, equipping them to become the next generation of leaders and change makers.

As one of his former students, Heather Bigchild feels privileged to be the first recipient of the award marking Dempsey’s legacy.

“Receiving this award has had a profound impact on both my academic journey and personal sense of purpose,” says Bigchild, who graduates this spring with a bachelor of arts in Native Studies from the Faculty of Native Studies.

A highly respected Indigenous scholar and a bedrock faculty member, Dempsey taught his students about Indigenous history, the history of Indigenous peoples in Western Canada and the Indian Act.

Under his guidance, Bigchild, a Nahkawe Nêhiyaw from Sunchild First Nation, learned in her first year of classes about the significance of Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination and historical treaties versus modern treaties.

“Receiving the award is a powerful reminder of the obligations and responsibility I carry to continue this work, both for myself and for those who came before me, as well as for future generations,” says Bigchild.

Earning the award also carries both personal and collective meaning for Bigchild.

“It reflects not only my journey, but also the strength and resilience of my family and community, especially given the impacts of residential schools, day schools and the Sixties Scoop.”

Grateful to the Dempsey family and to the other donors who made the award possible, she looks forward to helping continue his legacy.

“It inspires me to carry his values forward and give back in meaningful ways.”

Being able to ensure students continue to benefit from his father’s legacy is rewarding, Sumner adds, including for any future recipients from Treaty 7 in southern ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, where Dempsey was a member of the Blood Tribe.

“I hope students will feel inspired by the award. I would love for them to know that a professor at the U of A was from there, who was instrumental in a lot of students’ education … and that ultimately, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.”

And though his father was “a man of few words,” Sumner says he would be touched to know we’ve created this award to make sure his memory lives on in the Faculty of Native Studies, and that his influence is still there to inspire students in their academic pursuits.