Unique school celebrates first graduates

Page 9

Family, friends, dignitaries and school officials gathered together on June 25 to celebrate with members of Sakewew high school's first ever graduating class.

The night, with its theme of rising to success, was proof to many that First Nations education works.

Special guest speaker Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) said the graduates are dispelling the stereotype of the "dumb, drunken Indian."

"Any time we see our young men and women graduate it provides hope for the future," he said in an interview following the graduation ceremony.

Sakewew, which opened its doors for the first time in the fall of 2002, is administered jointly by the Battlefords Tribal Council (BTC) and the local public and separate school boards, making it the first school of its kind in Western Canada.

It is the result of years of lobbying by First Nations leaders and educators who saw the need for a school in the area catering to Aboriginal youth.

Graduate Trudy Moccasin says she's a better person after attending Sakewew. Weekly activities such as talking circles allowed Moccasin, who gave birth during the school year, to say what was worrying or bothering her and to get on with her schoolwork.

"They've helped me so much," the 21-year-old said of the staff and Elders. "I've been struggling since I was 16 with my culture and they've helped me reinforce it and get into it."

Moccasin received a cultural award and a healing racism award for her strong example as a cultural leader.

Many students came to the school knowing little or nothing about their heritage, Sakewew principal Colin Sutherland said. So staff and Elders held spiritual ceremonies throughout the year and taught students the meanings behind the rituals.

"So when they go through a ceremony in the future they will know exactly what to do," Sutherland said.

During the grad ceremony, the young men and women were presented not only with the traditional mortarboard grad caps and diplomas, but also with the eagle feathers used in sacred ceremonies throughout the school year.

Elders were invited onstage several times to lead prayers and give the grads advice.

The inaugural class is small-only 14 graduates-but Sutherland, who has opened two other First Nations schools in the province, said "each brings its own success in terms of the number of graduates and this school is no different than other schools."

Graduate Stephanie Wuttunee said the last two months have been hectic as the students planned for grad and finished their last two classes. Sakewew is on a quad system with classes compressed into two-and-a-half months. That system appeals to students who have only one or two classes to complete in order to graduate.

Sutherland said he's seen his students overcome personal and social obstacles, such as addiction, abuse and negative public perception.

"They've persevered through a lot of hardships," agreed Bellegarde, speaking of First Nations students in general.

"A lot of them are from single-parent homes. There's a lot of social dysfunction sometimes," Bellegarde said.

Sutherland said next year's goal is to strive for academic excellence in all areas. "Our first year was to establish a learning, respectful climate and we've accomplished that," he said.

Many of the grads already have plans to pursue post-secondary studies, ranging from mechanics to early childhood development.

Carrie Paddy, who had the highest average in the class at 85.3 per cent, won a slew of academic awards as well as a health care scholarship to help her get started in her nursing career.