Aboriginal grads honoured
Guest speaker talks importance of post-secondary education and indigenous culture at 13th annual Indigenous Honour Ceremony
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
First Nations graduates took in the 13th annual Indigenous Honour Ceremony with words of wisdom on Saturday.
Parents, teachers, elders, aboriginal leaders and community members gathered at Sir John Franklin High School for a feeding of the fire ceremony, qulliq lighting and speeches from a guest speaker.
Students were also presented with stolls - a sash made of wool fabric and moose hide.
Angela James, director of Education, Culture and Employment, whose great-grandmother was first-cousin to Louis Riel, talked about how important it is that First Nations youth attend university as a way to overcome the challenges First Nations communities face today. She also spoke of the importance of maintaining cultural roots.
Graduate Stephanie Elanick said James' speech carried an important message for indigenous youth.
"It's not just about education," she said.
"It's about staying true to your indigenous identity and really showing people that there is more to the North than those negative impacts. We are more than that."
Miriame Giroux, who graduated from Sir John Franklin last year, attended the ceremony. She said ceremonies honouring indigenous youth are an important part of their culture.
"It always gives me a high when the parents go up and give the sash to their sons and daughters," she said. "It means so much to them and the speeches too, and the importance of keeping the culture."
Organizer Doreen Cleary was one of the original organizers of the ceremony.
She said it is important to encourage aboriginal students to complete high school and then celebrate the achievement.
"It's important for me as an aboriginal person to see the encouragement of aboriginal students to complete high school," she said.
"There are a lot of aboriginal students who are capable of graduating and going to post-secondary school and we need to encourage them and give them support and I see that it is a day to celebrate with them and encourage and motivate them."
Students from Sir John Franklin High School, St. Patrick High School, Aurora College and K'alemi Dene High School were all present.
