FORT SIMPSON - When the 10 Kindergarten graduates from Bompas elementary school in Fort Simpson walked into their graduation ceremony on June 15 they were wearing a part of their culture.

Mabel Grossetete, left, is presented with a photo by Reanna Auger-Isaiah for her contribution to the project to create beaded stoles for the Kindergarten graduates at Bompas elementary school. Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photophoto

In addition to their purple cap and gown, each graduate wore a white stole decorated with beading done by local women. A stole is a piece of material hung around the neck.

The idea for the stoles came from one of the graduate's grandmothers. Betty (Elizabeth) Hardisty, Teagan Zoe-Hardisty's grandmother, was inspired after seeing Teagan's aunt working on a stole for a preschool class in Yellowknife.

"I thought maybe we could do one for the Kindergarten,” said Hardisty.

Although Hardisty has done beading before, making 10 stoles seemed like too much work.

She recruited help from the traditional sewing program that she was facilitating at the Deh Cho Friendship Centre.

Seven women, including three elders, worked on the ten stoles for the Kindergarten students and the two that were given to teacher Val Gendron and Betty Hanson.

Elders who worked on the project included Jane Grossetete-Tonka, Marie Horassi and Mabel Grossetete. The other beaders were Marie Louise Norwegian, Sandra Edda, Marie Menicoche and Hardisty.

"I thought it would be good for the grandmothers to do this to celebrate their kids,” said Hardisty.

To make the stoles, Hardisty borrowed one of the graduation gowns and designed a stole that would fit it. She also did some research by looking at pictures of other graduations.

The stoles were made out of white stroud, the same material used for moccasin uppers and jackets.

The women started work on the project at the end of March and had the stoles finished by May 31. Each stole has a unique flower pattern. The stoles also have bead trim that was applied on each by Hardisty and Maria Menicoche.

The elaborate beadwork took a lot of time.

When Hardisty first came to Kindergarten teacher Val Gendron with the idea, Gendron said she was excited.

"That's a wonderful idea but I have no time to devote to it,” Gendron remembers saying.

Hardisty agreed to take on the project and when asked for a completion date, Gendron said the end of May.

Hardisty showed up at the classroom door as promised on May 31 after staying until 1:30 a.m. that morning to finish the bead trim.

"That's called dedication,” said Gendron.

The project has been a good way for the school and the community to interact, she said.

"This is the community and the school coming together in a positive, caring way,” she said.

This is the first time that stoles have been worn to the Kindergarten graduation. Students were allowed to take their stole home to keep.

Gendron hopes to see the students wear them again at their Grade 6 graduations and again at their Grade 12 ceremony.