For Louise Fraser crossing convocation stage on Wednesday University of Saskatchewan earning her final bachelor's degree may have made history, but it's just the first step toward her plans for the future.
The 87-year-old woman received a higher pedagogical education, which made her one of the oldest graduates of the university. However, this monumental moment was more than just becoming a teacher—it was the beginning of Fraser's journey to pass on to others what she had once had to forget.
“I lost my language when I was in boarding school,” Fraser told Global News after receiving her degree on Wednesday. “We were banned from speaking our language and I want to take it back and I’m still working on it.”
Receive daily national news
Get the day's top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
For the past two and a half years, Fraser has been studying to become a teacher, focusing on the Cree language. She also completed the four-year program in half the time allotted because she already had a degree in social work.
Even though she graduated with honors, Fraser said her time in school wasn't always easy. She said her elders constantly encouraged her to travel, pushing her to preserve her language.
“It was hard work, but I enjoyed it because I wanted to learn more about the language,” Fraser said.
Before deciding to become a teacher, Fraser ran her own psychiatric therapy practice. She said she is looking forward to using her social work experience to help her navigate the classroom environment.
“I hope to use my social work background to work with students, especially language transfer,” she said.
When it comes to speaking formally to students, Fraser won't waste any time. She expects to receive her teaching certificate within the next few weeks and hopes to begin teaching Cree before next year.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
