Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Jun 16/00) - It's taken many years of lobbying by parents and educational staff, but Fort Liard finally has achieved its goal of producing high school graduates.

A ceremony was held in the impressively decorated community hall to celebrate the occasion. District education authority chair Eva Hope thanked the half-dozen graduates for their hard work and dedication in what amounts to a "great accomplishment."

"Now I hope they go out and reach for the stars, as they say ... we are so proud of them," said Hope.

Mayor Joanne Deneron alluded to the significant changes in the community over the past quarter decade. Twenty-five years ago there was nothing more than a little school by the river bank that only went up to Grade 6, she noted.

Friday was an occasion where all community members should have felt gratified, she said.

"It's an accomplishment we can all be proud of because it took a whole lot of players to make this happen," Deneron said, adding that it's never too late to go back to school to upgrade.

She said economic and social changes in the community have necessitated a higher level of education.

"Grade 12 is practically a must now in order to get into any of the training opportunities out there," she told the audience.

Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine encouraged the students to continue their education, and then return to bolster the local workforce.

"We need all the help we can get here in the North," he said.

Acho Dene Koe Chief Harry Deneron echoed Antoine's advice to pursue higher education. He added that there haven't been many graduates to come from Fort Liard, and he hopes that the grad class of 2000 is just the beginning.

Teacher Pat May said there are three more potential graduates next year. She has spent the past two years with the first crop of graduates and admitted that she will miss them.

"It's like I'm losing my family, my kids. I'm very, very proud of them," said May. The grade extensions program in Fort Liard may not be ideal -- there is no specialized instruction, equipment or facilities -- but all the graduates have exceeded the basic minimum requirements and have done well overall, she added.

Nolan Swartzentruber, director of the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education, reminded the students that they are growing, building experience through rites of passage and gaining authority and responsibility in life's journey.

"Don't be discouraged by how far you have to go, just turn around and see how far you've come," he said.

When the floor opened to the audience for comments, Jeremiah Harris, a Fort Liard student who graduated from Thomas Simpson school in Fort Simpson last year, took the opportunity to congratulate his peers.