Sask. columnist Doug Cuthand signs-off, leaving a legacy of Indigenous storytelling

WATCH: A longtime Saskatchewan columnist known for amplifying Indigenous stories is closing a chapter in his career.

Doug Cuthand spent more than 30 years turning his weekly column into a classroom, guiding readers through Indigenous history, culture and challenges.

“By writing a column, I hoped to educate people a little bit about the topic and open their eyes to what was going on,” Cuthand said in an interview with CTV News.

He learned that to discuss complex issues, he needed to break them down over time so readers would listen and understand.

“I would tackle a story from several angles overs a period of months. That way, people got a better understanding of what was really behind it,” he said.

Cuthand recently wrote his final column for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, stepping down to focus on his health after a prostate cancer diagnosis. He had originally planned to retire next year, when he turns 80.

“So, I’m really just following my business plan a little earlier, that’s all,” he said.

His storytelling extends beyond print. He owns Blue Hill Productions and has directed and produced several films, including Donna’s Story, which won the National Film Board’s award for best documentary over 30 minutes.

• Get the latest news from Saskatoon, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

He also spent four years hosting Indigenous Circle in the mid-1990s before passing the torch to Nelson Bird in 1998.

Bird said he had always admired Cuthand’s work, noting that his first interview as host of Indigenous Circle was with Cuthand.

“We hit it off right away and he became my friend for many years,” Bird told CTV News.

As Bird continued hosting the show for 15 years, he said Cuthand became a mentor he could call whenever he had questions.

“Doug has done so much for the Indigenous community, the First Nations and the Métis in this province – giving people a voice,” he said.

Cuthand’s work amplifying Indigenous voices earned him several honours, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and an honorary Doctor of Laws.

Historian Bill Waiser nominated him for the honorary doctorate to recognize his work.

“He constantly reminded his readers that we’re all treaty people and that treaties take two partners to work,” Waiser said.

He noted that a common theme in Cuthand’s columns was understanding the past for what it is and how it shapes the present.

Retired columnist Murray Mandryk said Cuthand stood out for his clear and concise writing.

“He told stories in a way anyone could understand because he was precise in his language and in the points he wanted to make.”

Reflecting on his career, Cuthand said he’s proud of how Indigenous representation has grown in media.

“We’ve grown a long way. I’m happy to have been part of that,” he said.

Even as he steps away from his column, he continues to pursue new film projects. His lifetime of storytelling is still unfolding.