Blue Quills graduates continue on a learning journey

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There were times in the last three years when Yvonne Lapatak thought about handing in her books and giving up her dream of becoming a psychologist.

She smiles as she recalls the times when she would look at assignments and wonder if she would be able to find the words needed to write a 3,000 word term paper, or the times when she would wait until her grandchildren were tucked in for the night and then pull a late-night homework session.

When she was diagnosed with cancer in June, Lapatak found herself juggling medical appointments along with the homework and exams. She was unsure of whether she would be able to handle a battle with cancer plus the workload that comes with earning a Bachelor of General Studies degree at St. Paul's Blue Quills First Nations College.

Lapatak said it was determination combined with the support of her family that kept her going to classes day after day.

"Going to college is something I've always wanted to do. I felt like quitting at times, but I had a lot of encouragement from my family," said Lapatak.

Lapatak refused chemotherapy treatment for the cancer, and between classes she hit the library looking for self-healing books. After trying aroma-therapy and numerous forms of alternative medicine, Lapatak finally found what she was looking for.

"I really believe in the power of the mind and self-healing. I went to a healing lodge with a medicine man in Saskatchewan and I believe that is what helped me," said Lapatak.

Now, with the cancer in remission and a Bachelor of General Studies in her hand, Lapatak plans to continue down the road towards a Masters degree in psychology.

On Oct. 16, Lapatak, dressed in a blue graduation cap and gown, was one of the 148 students graduating from Blue Quills.

After the traditional pipe ceremony, the graduates, their family and friends gathered in the Blue Quills gym for the convocation celebration. College president Leona Makokis congratulated the graduates, saying that the evening marked another successful year for the college.

"A few years ago, we only had a few people receiving degrees. Now we have a wall full of names of people receiving diplomas and degrees," said Makokis.

"I'm proud to stand before you and reflect on these successes. It's these successes that reflect back on the community."

The guest speaker for the evening was the college co-ordinator of the First Nations Leadership and Management Program, Sherri Chisan. Chisan, who is originally from the St. Paul area, attended the first business management program at Blue Quills in the 1980s.

After graduating from the program, she went on to earn her masters degree at the San Diego State University in California. This summer Chisan returned to the place where her education began, and she started teaching at Blue Quills.

Following the evening's graduation theme of Our learning journey, if it's to be, it's up to me, Chisan challenged the graduates not to let their learning journey stop once they walk out of the doors of the college.

"When we come into this world, we begin learning. We learn these things because we realize quite quickly it will get us what we want and where we want to go," said Chisan.

"I challenge you not to stop learning. Life is learning. Living is learning. Accept the challenge to learn something new every day. Together, we have to say it's up to you, it's up to me, it's up to us."

After the presentations of the diplomas, degrees and awards, the graduates and their guests participated in a feast and round dance, which also included performances by Alex Dion and the Kehewin Native Theatre group.