Communications program graduates 23

April 26 was a day of celebration as 23 students, mostly Aboriginal people, graduated from the Native Communications Program at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan Community College.

The graduates were recognized for their work at a banquet held at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre where instructor and program chair and former graduate, Jane Woodward, along with Ed Burnstick, shared duties as emcee for the evening.

Burnstick presented each student with a small eagle father and explained that the eagle "is a sacred bird to us. We use the eagle feather in our ceremoniespresent them to people who have gone further."

Woodward was impressed with this year's crop of students and singled out a few of them as they received their certificates and feathers.

Graduate Jerome Thomas from Fort Simpson is a carver and artist who attended the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, Woodward said.

"Yesterday, he negotiated the sale of one of his carvings to the college," aid Woodward.

Still another northerner, Karen Lander from Coppermine, may have "a bright career in journalism if she works at it," encouraged Woodward.

Rounding out the list of 23 graduates were Linda Dumont, Natasha Batt, Andrew Penner, Elaine Ross, Erik Christopherson, Sally Jones, Caleb Hughes, Margaret Deranger, Shelly Turner, Chrystal Buffalo, Maurice Campre, Elaine McGilvery, Corey and Michael Callihoo, Matilda Antoine, Valera Bouchier, Metro Cardinal, Sandra Crowfoot, Jackie Koe, Kirk McLeod and Violet Stanley.