Ceremony celebrates Deh Gah grads
Class of 2016 walks across the stage to receive honours and fanfare
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 1, 2016
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Seven new members have joined the ranks of those who have graduated from Deh Gah School in Fort Providence.
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli, left, and MP Michael McLeod pose for a photo with the graduating class of 2016 from Deh Gah School. Next to McLeod is graduate Christina Bonnetrouge, Delaney Vandell, Kelsey Bonnetrouge, Brandon Thom, Derrick Vandell, Mikaela Vandell and Jade Bonnetrouge. In front are principal Lois Philipp and to the far right is Education Minister Alfred Moses. - photos courtesy of Thorsten Gohl
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On Aug. 23, members of the community gathered in the school's gymnasium for the graduation ceremony.
Jade Bonnetrouge, Mikaela Vandell, Derrick Vandell, Brandon Thom, Kelsey Bonnetrouge, Delaney Vandell and Christina Bonnetrouge all received their scrolls that evening.
Family, friends and fellow students packed into the gymnasium for the event, which included a smudging, with graduates seated in a semi-circle, and speeches from local leaders including Deh Gah Got'ie Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge, principal Lois Philipp and valedictorian Brandon Thom.
Thom spent part of his summer working with the hamlet's recreation co-ordinator, Andre Bolduc, and has been a familiar face at many at the community's sporting events, helping to run the events and also participating while acting as a mentor of sorts for the younger children.
In his speech to his classmates and to the school, Thom thanked his teachers for their support during his years at Deh Gah School.
"(The teachers) pushed me to my limits," he said.
He also told the story of his road to fitness, which began around two years ago when he completed Grade 10.
"Thanks to my brother and other sport people in my life, I've lost approximately 90 pounds . through persistence and a lot of work," he said.
"Once I started, (fitness) kind of became my addiction. Now I'm going to college to study it. It's pretty cool."
Many of the graduates are already on their way to various cities in Canada to pursue their post-secondary education. Christina Bonnetrouge said she feels relieved to be done with high school.
She is currently in Edmonton for an entrance program into the bachelor of arts program at the University of Alberta, focusing on psychology.
"I thought being out on my own would be tough but so far it's great," she said.
"I like the idea of doing whatever I want, when I want, and there's so much more opportunities out here."
Once she gets her degree, she said, she hopes to return to Fort Providence for some time to work with the community's youth.
"I'll most likely (return) for a couple years to encourage and help the youth in my community get out and adventure," she said.
"Then I'm going to adventure off again."
