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Aboriginal grads honoured

Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 08/05) - They've already donned caps and gowns, picked up their ribbon-tied diploma and partied till dawn at their graduations from Sir John and St. Patrick high schools.


NNSL photo/graphic

Meghan Bowden is excited to take part in the first honour ceremony for aboriginal grads this weekend. The 18-year-old leaves the halls of Sir John Franklin high school this year for those at the University of Alberta.


This weekend, a select group of Grade 12 grads will take part in an equally venerable rite of passage - the Honour Ceremony for Aboriginal Graduates.

The first such ceremony of its kind in the city coincides with one of the highest numbers of aboriginal grads; 48 are graduating this year. Organizer Jane Arychuk says 25 is the average.

The number is good news for organizers, who say part of the reason they created the event is to combat the negativity surrounding aboriginal graduation rates. According to NWT statistics, it continues to be much lower than non-aboriginals.

"This is a rite of passage in their lives that needs to be honoured traditionally," says Arychuk.

"The idea was already there, but it became more apparent that the time had come," she says.

News of the celebration filtered down to students two months ago, though organizing started last fall.

Meghan Bowden, a Grade 12 Sir John Franklin student has never heard of such a distinct celebration, though she says "it's pretty cool."

"We're all pretty excited. We don't know what to expect," says Bowden, who is Inuit.

As for the benefits of the ceremony, Bowden hopes the limelight and support may boost Aboriginal performance in school.

"It might motivate Aboriginal kids to actually graduate and know they can make something of their lives," she says.

Over at St. Pat's, Aboriginal grads Darby Oystrek and Sheena Sangris are excited as well.

The Metis students want to send the message to younger Grades that a high school diploma is not just attainable, but necessary today.

"To get a good job, you need at least a high school diploma," says Sangris, 18.

Organizers budgeted about $10,000 for the joint Yellowknife Education district No. 1 and Yellowknife Catholic schools June 11 ceremony, which will be held at the Yellowknife River.

They are expecting over 500 people to get together for drum dancing, fiddling, games and a feast of fish and meat.

The event will cover many different aboriginal cultures, from a firefeeding ceremony ,to the lighting of the quilliq.