Aboriginal grads honoured in style
Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Friday, June 17, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Last Saturday, young aboriginal students were honoured for reaching a major scholastic milestone.
Krischan Smith, left, and Chize Desjarlais drum at the Sir John Franklin Aboriginal Grad Honour Ceremony during the feeding of the fire ceremony. - photo courtesy of Evelyne Straker |
The group was given special recognition for graduating from high school or college at the annual Aboriginal Grad Honour Ceremony.
Doreen Cleary, one of the organizers for the event, said the ceremony is in line with many aboriginal cultures' tradition of honouring youth for major accomplishments, such as harvesting their first moose or reaching the age of maturity.
"It's all about honouring the students accomplishing something in their lives," Cleary said.
Students from Sir John Franklin, St. Patrick, Allain St-Cyr, Kalemi Dene high schools and Aurora College attended the event at Sir John Franklin High School, many of whom brought their parents.
At the ceremony were different activities designed to commemorate the students, such as the fire feeding ceremony and the qulliq lighting.
In the fire feeding ceremony, she said, students would take a bit of food or tobacco and put it into a fire.
"You're thanking spirits ... for good life," said Cleary.
A qulliq is a type of oil lamp historically used by the Inuit to keep warm. These days they are mainly used for ceremonial purposes as a way to preserve Inuit culture.
"When we're doing this ceremony we're trying to incorporate different cultures," she said.
There were also musical performances from the Fiddle Cats, William Greenland on the flute and an honour song from Brent Betsina and the SJF Drummers.
The students were also presented with stolls - a traditional sash made of stroud - a course woolen fabric - and moosehide. The stolls were designed and sewn by local artist Karen Wright-Fraser, which includes beading done by local women.
The ceremony was capped off with a potluck feast.
Cleary said this is the event's 12th year, and she's watched it grow since the beginning.
"I had quite a few people coming up to me, thanking me for keeping it going," she said.
