SIX NATIONS — Sometimes it’s your own desire to succeed in life that motivates you, and other times its the encouragement and love of a family member that gets you there.
To David Newhouse, it’s a bit of both.
David is Onondaga from Six Nations and is a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University (TU). He was the first principal of the new Peter Gzowski College at TU and has been chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies since 1993. His list of accolades seems endless, yet he credits much of his success to the encouragement and support he received from his mother, Dory Henhawk, throughout his life.
Recently he was selected to receive the 2016 Award for Educational Leadership and Innovation from TU in Peterborough Ont. In receiving the award he was recognized for his leadership by example, encouragement and empowerment in the areas of pedagogical excellence and renewal.
When presented with the award, he wasn’t expecting to see his 83-year-old mother sitting in the audience applauding him with everyone else.
“He definitely wasn’t expecting me to be there, but I was,” said Dory, an elder who currently lives in Brantford. “He’s my kid and I will always be proud to say that.”
Dory said that watching her son grow up, she knew his name was going to be remembered among educational professionals; he took Grade 1 and Grade 2 at the same time so she was sure “he was going to go places”. She knew David would do fine if he ended up working a general labour job his whole life, but she also knew that his heart wouldn’t have been in it.
David is the oldest of five children, and he said that growing up he always felt his mother’s encouragement to pursue his dreams.
“I couldn’t have done it without my mom’s help, support and encouragement,” he said. “She saw me through everything. She saw my potential and helped me see it in myself even when sometimes I couldn’t.”
Dory remembers her father didn’t encourage girls receiving high school, so she only went to school until Grade 8, but she wishes she had been given the opportunity to go. She said that David’s father didn’t want him to take high school either, but because of her own dreams she made absolutely sure David registered and completed high school.
“I wasn’t given the opportunity to take school after the eighth grade,” said Dory. “I always wanted to be a nurse, but I couldn’t. There was no way I was going to let David not finish his schooling.”
At the awards ceremony, the speaker saw that David’s mother was there and even commented on her attendance. The speaker said that it’s rare to see parents come out for things like this, especially when the recipients are older and already established in their careers. Dory couldn’t believe that people don’t always make the effort to go.
“Peterborough is a bit of a distance away and somewhat difficult to get to,” she said. “But how can family not support family? Of course I was going to be there for his day.”
Dory is proud of all five of her children. She said that family is and will always be the most important part of her life.
“I understand that it’s different for every family,” she said. “Not everyone has the experience or know-how to be encouraging and supportive, but it’s important to try. Stick together, always be there for each other. Thats what we do in our family and thats why we have managed to stay strong. I see so many families not talking to one another and children who don’t spend time with their parents or elders and they need to — the main thing is to stick together and love each other.”
What a lovely story. I’m sure they are both proud of each other.