Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 14, 2008

TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - Philadelphia may be known as the city of brotherly love, but Fort McPherson was the community of brotherly graduates this past month.

Five pairs of brothers graduated from Chief Julius school, making an already important day for the town extra special.

Desmond and Robert Koe were one of the five pairs.

"It was interesting. I thought my brother would finish earlier than me but I caught up with him. It was good," said Robert.

Robert said he and his brother were close growing up and they plan to go to Grand Prairie, Alta., together to attend college. Robert said he wants to upgrade his marks a bit and then go into a mechanics course, while Desmond is looking at a civil engineering program.

Desmond said he hadn't planned on graduating with his brother, but it was a nice way to finish school.

"I was supposed to graduate a year ahead of him but I guess I didn't do so well in one of my subjects. After I found out we were graduating together I guess it was pretty exciting," he said.

Graduate Jeffery Robert said he and his brother Stephen Kimiksana were always close growing up, so graduating together was a treat for both brothers.

"I'm just happy he didn't graduate before me," said Jeffery with a laugh.

He said there was little sibling rivalry between the two growing up - in fact, they were often inseparable.

"We used to play baseball, just me and him on our own. We used to play catch and just hang out," said Jeffery.

As with Desmond and Robert, Jeffery and Stephen are hoping to continue their education together. Both have applied to Aurora College in Inuvik. Jeffery is thinking about trades access, while Stephen wants his mechanic's ticket.

Alyn and Aryn Charlie were the only pair of twins in the group. As if graduating together weren't enough, both men decided to spend the summer working together at the James Creek road maintenance camp, located south of Fort McPherson.

The other pairs of brothers graduating together were Cory and Glen Alexie and Waylon and Dwight Snowshoe.