Grand Chief Steven Point is a respected leader, teacher, and storyteller whose life has been devoted to service and to strengthening the lives of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia and beyond. He has carried his gifts into many roles – as a Provincial Court Judge, Chancellor of the University of British Columbia, and the first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor of B.C. – always bringing wisdom, humor, and humanity to every setting. A proud member of the Stó:lō Nation, whose mother was of the Wolf Clan and descended from the hereditary line of Xá:telq, Steven has worked tirelessly to advance reconciliation, nurture the next generation, and uphold the values of community, culture, and justice. Whether on the bench, at the treaty table, or in the longhouse, he is known for his ability to bring people together through honesty, respect, and generosity of spirit. In recognition of a lifetime of contributions, he has been awarded the Order of British Columbia (2007) and Officer of the Order of Canada (2023), reflecting a legacy rooted in both tradition and visionary leadership.
Grand Chief — honoured by the Chiefs of the Stó:lō Tribal Council. Source
28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (2007–2012). Source
19th Chancellor (2020–2024) & Chancellor Emeritus (2024–present), The University of British Columbia. Appointment | Term concluded | Emeritus listing
Provincial Court Judge, Province of British Columbia — first appointed 1999; reappointed effective Mar 3, 2014; retired Oct 31, 2018. Reappointment | Retirement
Chief Commissioner, BC Treaty Commission (2005–2007). Source
Director, First Nations (Indigenous) Legal Studies, UBC (1991–1994). Source
Elected Chief, Skowkale (Sq'ewqeyl) First Nation & Tribal Chair, Stó:lō Nation (1994–1999). Source
Chair, Advisory Committee on the Safety and Security of Vulnerable Women (2012–2013). Source
Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) (2023). Source
Order of British Columbia (OBC) (2007). Source
Order of Chilliwack (2016). Source
Honorary Colonel (Canadian Army), 39 Service Battalion — served as Honorary Colonel of 39 Service Battalion (Canadian Army Reserve). Source (Canada.ca) | Source (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Honorary Captain (Navy), Royal Canadian Navy — appointed Feb 24, 2009. Source
Knight of the Order of St. John (KStJ) (2008). Source
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) & Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). Source
Honorary Witness, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada — inducted at the BC National Event (Vancouver, September 2013); delivered an official statement on 20 September 2013. NCTR — Honorary Witnesses | TRC Report (notes)
Indspire (National Aboriginal Achievement) Award — Law & Justice (2000). Source
Joseph H. Cohen Award (Justice Institute of BC Foundation). Source
Allard Law Alumni Achievement Awards — Lifetime Achievement Award (2022). Peter A. Allard School of Law at The University of British Columbia recognized him with its top alumni honour on November 15, 2022. Allard Law — Recipients | Event | Video
Earned Degrees — LLB (Bachelor of Laws), The University of British Columbia, 1985. UBC Allard Law History Project | UBC Today profile | Legislative Assembly of BC
Honorary Degrees (LLD, honoris causa) — University College of the Fraser Valley/UFV (2000), University of Victoria (2012), University of British Columbia (2013), Capilano University (2017), Justice Institute of British Columbia (2018). UFV | UVic | UBC | CapU | JIBC
Heraldry — Grant of Arms and Supporters (Canadian Heraldic Authority, March 20, 2009). Source
Civic Honour — Richmond renamed Trutch Avenue to Point Avenue (2022). Source
Style of Address — as a former Lieutenant Governor, entitled to “The Honourable” for life. Source
The Hollow Tree, What We Lost, by Grand Chief Steven Point
"The Hollow Tree" is part history, part testimony, and a path forward toward responsibility and repair.
These pages carry voices of Elders and youth, of law and land; of what was taken, and what must be restored.
If we hear them, we can change what comes next.
© Agassiz Publishing | BC's Regal Animals by Sora 2 Pro
Music: Gustav Holst, Jupiter, Omega13a, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
British Columbia’s First Indigenous Lieutenant Governor Opens Parliament – February 12, 2008
Grand Chief The Honourable Steven Point delivers his first Speech from the Throne as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Viceroy in British Columbia.
© Agassiz Publishing | Video courtesy of the Province of British Columbia
Grand Chief The Honourable Steven Point, OBC, OC — Reflections on the Gift to British Columbia
In this recording, Grand Chief speaks in his own voice about the cedar canoe that now rests in the rotunda of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings — why he carved it, what it represents, and the meaning of gifting it to the people of the province.
© Agassiz Publishing | Photos courtesy of Government House, Victoria, BC