Native community workers graduate

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The Anishinabek Education Institute's graduation for its Traditional Aboriginal Healing Methods - Native Community Worker program was held June 19 at the Chippewas of the Thames Community Centre before a full house.

Sixteen graduates from Chippewas of the Thames; Munsee Delaware Nation; Oneida Settlement; Moraviantown; and one from Manitoba were honored:Sandra L. Albert,

Alvira J. Antone, Deborah D. Burch, Joyce M. Cunningham, Kimberly E. Doxtator,

Mable Doxtator, Wanda M. Doxtator, Samantha F. Elijah, Arlene G. Elm, Deborah L. Elm, Lori A. Elm, Franklin B. French, Betsy L. Kechego, Jason A. Parenteau, Sherrie A. Riley, and Tanya G. Sickles.

Mary Deleary, the institute's site co-ordinator, said, "This group is our second class graduating from the TAHM/NCWP."

The two-year program, accredited by St. Clair College, runs out of the institute's Munsee-Delaware campus. The institute's aim is to provide culture-based educational programs for First Nations people. According to Deleary, "the students have completed mainstream requirements and have gone beyond that by completing cultural curriculum. This means that they are doing more work. It's more intensive, so it takes longer to complete."

The graduates danced in Grand Entry style to their seats. Nick Deleary, one of the instructors, introduced speakers from the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI), the Chippewas of the Thames and St. Clair College.

Grand Chief of the Anishinabek Nation, Vernon Roote, acknowledged that it was Joe Miskokomon, chief of the Chippewas of the Thames, who had worked to establish an educational institute within the UOI in the 1990s.

Keynote speaker, Joe Miskokoman, said the 43 Anishinabek Nation chiefs "decided to take quantum steps forward to address Native peoples' high drop-out rate" by addressing the health of their people.

"If we cannot get the professional expertise imported into our communities, then why not grow our own? Why not develop our own professionals? Well, this graduating class of Native community care workers shows that we can."

Mary Deleary spoke proudly of the graduates. "We see the growth and development of their gifts when they go, in the final semester, on 14-week placements with agencies in their communities." The placement is the clearest evaluation of how well the program is doing and how well the students have embraced their learning, she said.

Sue Ireland, college liaison, presented Sherrie Riley with the Spirit of Dedication Award, and Jason Parenteau with the Spirit of Leadership Award.

The St. Clair College Faculty Academic Award was given to Kimberly Doxtator, while Sherrie Riley received the Student Leadership Award. Both carried a perfect 4.0 grade point average.