A Canadian poet who was going to be this year’s Woodrow Lloyd lecturer for the University of Regina has decided not to participate. On Thursday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations demanded the U of R cancel the presentation by George Elliot Clarke, saying he has worked with convicted killer Steven Kummerfield and had stated that he “may or may not” read a poem from Kummerfield, who now goes by the name Stephen Brown.

Kummerfield is a published poet, but he also was convicted of manslaughter in the beating death of Pamela George in 1995 near the Regina airport. Clarke wasn’t aware of Kummerfield’s past until a few months ago.

A news release from the university this morning, says the institution is deeply committed to honouring the treaties, supporting truth and reconciliation, and creating a safe and welcoming campus for Indigenous students, staff and faculty. The U of R is also committed to the principles of free speech, thought and expression, so “balancing these 2 commitments can, at times, create challenges”. The Faculty of Arts will not be seeking a replacement speaker for this year’s event.

The university is reaching out to Indigenous leaders, elders and groups to have some open discussions on the situation.