Degrees of Excellence: A Celebration of Native Students
Graduation season is more than cap and gown. It's about community, identity, and resilience. It's about what it means to earn a degree while staying true to who you are.
That's why ICT is proud to present Degrees of Excellence, a brand-new education special issue dedicated to Native students and higher education. Every story in this collection is fresh, deeply-reported, and told by Indigenous journalists.
Inside, you'll meet young changemakers like Evelyn Enos and Kiara Tanta-Quidgeon — both named to UNITY's 25 Under 25 list — who are blending cultural preservation, storytelling, and wellness to impact their communities.
You'll discover how more Native students are wearing regalia with pride at spring graduations, and what it took to get here.
You'll find an interactive map of every tribal college and university in the U.S., plus a user-friendly guide to FAFSA deadlines and financial aid questions for 2025.
And you'll go behind the scenes of the Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise Program with ICT's shared reporter Erica Ayisi, who explores how tuition coverage at UW-Madison is more than a financial story. It's about history, healing, and justice.
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or just proud of the next generation, these are the stories to read right now.
Degrees of Excellence is live. Explore the full issue here.
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Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Historic Japanese triplexes restored at B.C.'s oldest surviving cannery
Japanese triplexes built in the 1960s at the last intact cannery on B.C.'s north coast have now been restored, preserving a vital piece of the region's multicultural fishing heritage. Built in 1889, the North Pacific Cannery in Port Edward played a key role in driving economic development on British Columbia's coast through salmon canning. It remained in active operation until 1980. Now the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site and Museum, the site consists of a cluster of wooden buildings, primarily single-storey, arranged along a wooden boardwalk. It includes the main cannery building, management and administrative offices, residences, and employee housing. 'Ethnically-segregated living and work areas divided Chinese, Japanese, Native and white labour,' stated Parks Canada. The set-up was designed to function as a self-sustaining community in an isolated location, generating significant profits for its owners. The main cannery structure, completed in 1895, remains largely unaltered to this day. The Port Edward Historical Society is the current steward of the site. They are a registered charity dedicated to preserving, restoring, interpreting, and expanding the legacy of the North Pacific Cannery. With funding from the Japanese Canadian Legacies initiative, a non-profit organization supported by the Province, the local society received a grant that enabled the restoration of three units in one triplex to their original state. These restored units are now available as short-term rental accommodations. 'The Japanese Canadian Legacy Society was set up by the provincial government [in 2022] because the provincial government finally owned up to the fact that they had a role to play when the Japanese Canadians were interned [in camps] during World War Two. So to make up for that horrible time, they set aside some funding,' said Mona Izumi, North Pacific Cannery Historical Society's president. Additionally, the society transformed a fourth unit in the second triplex into an interpretive exhibit showcasing the history of Japanese Canadians at the cannery. This display features archival recreations of the homes and everyday objects used by past residents, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into their lives. The society organized the grand opening of the triplexes on May 24, drawing a turnout of more than 150 attendees. The afternoon featured a special interactive performance by the Lax Kw'alaams Dancers, guided tours of the site, and a delicious salmon bake and sushi relished by all. Japanese Triplexes A significant number of Japanese Canadians worked at the cannery before the Second Wolrd War. They were fishermen, skilled boat builders, net menders and cannery workers. In 1941, Canada declared war on Japan. After that, 1,200 fishing boats owned by Japanese Canadians were impounded, states the exhibit panels at the triplex. 'All persons of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes on the West Coast and moved to internment camps in the interior of B.C. Able-bodied men were sent to work on farms and road crews in communities east of the Rockies,' said the text on the exhibit. Ichitaro Miki was born in Japan and moved to northwest B.C. to join his father and uncles to build boats before the war. 'On February 19, 1942, my parents were forced to evacuate Arrandale [north of Prince Rupert] for the last time. Father [Ichitaro Miki] 's relationship with the First Nation's people was so close. With his departure, he was abandoning years of hard work and everything he had built up was virtually lost. As the catala steamed past familiar landmarks, father took a final glance up Portland Inlet not knowing when he would ever see this land again,' shared Miki's family. In 1945, Japan surrendered after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. All internment camps in B.C. were then closed and bulldozed. Japanese Canadians were made to relocate east of the Rocky Mountains or 'repatriate' to Japan. By 1949, the federal government lifted the restrictions it imposed under the War Measures Act, and Japanese Canadians were finally allowed to return to British Columbia's coast. Following the news, fishing companies in B.C. started actively recruiting these fishermen and tried to attract them with boat rentals and housing. After the war, the Japanese were mainly fishermen, no longer boat builders and cannery workers. Old housing at the cannery withered and fell apart, so the owners constructed new ones for the returning fishermen between 1964 and 1965. Some of the original residents were Robert and Fumiko Nishimura, Katsuki and Misao Kadowaki, and Frank and Yoshiko Yoshida. These families made every effort to make the most of the salmon season. According to the interpretive text, men typically fished while women took on responsibilities both at home and in the cannery. Life was busy, especially during peak season, as they worked hard to preserve enough seafood to last the entire year. They canned sockeye salmon, crab, abalone, and sea urchin, and also dried seaweed. Salmon was often salted and shipped to family members in other parts of Canada. In addition to their work, women also maintained the communal bath, a vital part of daily life and community hygiene. For the first time in the triplexes' record, they are now open to the public. The restored spaces offer an immersive look into daily life in these historic homes. The kitchens display traditional cooking items, while the living rooms are set up with vintage radios, pianos, and traditional Japanese games and snacks. The bedrooms feature old beds and side tables filled with personal items from the era, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia for visitors. Heather Hadland-Dudoward, the historical society's general manager, invites visitors to rent the three new, refurbished units. She says while the exterior maintains the old, rustic look, the interior is equipped with modern furniture, heating and lighting systems. The bathroom, however, includes an antique clawfoot bathtub and a cast-iron sink, both salvaged from the original cannery. Modern amenities such as TVs and Wi-Fi have not yet been added. 'You really get to unplug and just enjoy the environment. It is really neat, and people who like trains will especially love staying here,' said Dudoward. Travellers will wake up to an ultra-tranquil setting, surrounded by lush greenery, a serene river, and the majestic mountains. The only regular source of funding the cannery gets is from the North Coast Regional District, without which operations would not be possible. Young Canada Works provides some additional support for tour guides. However, as Dudoward noted, maintaining the various museum spaces, artifacts, and facilities, along with supporting staff and events, requires an immense amount of ongoing effort. The upkeep of this historic site involves considerable work, from guided tours to daily maintenance and administrative operations. With the addition of new rental units, the society hopes to advance its mission to preserve and enhance the site for years to come. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
You're saying these Long Island towns wrong — even the ones you think you know: ‘Butchered'
This will have you spit out your 'cawffee.' It's a dead giveaway that someone isn't from Long Island if they bungle how to pronounce local communities – but it turns out even 516 and 631 lifers are doing it wrong. Teams like the New York Islanders and Long Island Ducks even post videos of out-of-town players brutally mincing Wantagh, Patchogue and other Native-American names. Advertisement 6 The New York Islanders and Long Island Ducks post videos of out-of-town players brutally mincing Wantagh, Patchogue and other Native-American names. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post But you may not have to venture far to find folks messing up Massapequa and Ronkonkoma, which have been anglicized over the past few centuries. Their real pronunciations sound unrecognizable to the modern ear, according to former longtime Unkechaug Nation Chief Harry Wallace, an expert in Algonquian. 'Our language wasn't written in the sense of being translated into English or French — the sound is what they're trying to copy,' Wallace, based on on the island, told The Post. Advertisement He compared how Algonquian is the root base of many different Native American languages, some of which were spoken on Long Island, much like the Romance languages, such as French, Spanish, and Italian, all of which stem from Latin. However, during colonial times, much was lost in translation because the European settlers 'didn't know how to spell,' especially with hard consonants like the letter 'H,' which are vital to the Algonquian language, he added. From there, readers would only see, but not hear, the real pronunciation. Ultimately, it turned into a telephone game that has been ongoing for a few hundred years. Advertisement Wallace recognizes that there's no one official way to sound out some towns, such as Wantagh, which islanders say as 'wan-tah.' And the local way of saying Patchogue as 'patch-hog' is pretty close to its origin, he said. These, however, are some Native American-named local towns that even the most bona fide residents are getting wrong, according to Wallace. Copiague 6 Algonquian is the root base of many different Native American languages, some of which were spoken on Long Island. Copiague Chamber of Commerce / Facebook Advertisement Townsfolk and the recorded voice on the Long Island Railroad alike sound out this Suffolk community as 'co-peg,' but really it should be pronounced closer to 'co-pi-ah-e' with a short 'I' and long 'E,' he explained. '[Europeans] would elongate the A when they read it…and that's all they would hear after,' Wallace added of what translates loosely to grove or forest. Massapequa 6 As with other Algonquin hard consonants, the real sound is 'Mass-a-peek' without the open vowels at the end. Massapequa Park / Facebook The town that has caught the eye of President Trump over as it fights to keep its Chiefs team logo in the face of a state ban on Native American mascots isn't straightforwardly pronounced 'Mass-a-pequa,' said Wallace, who opposes the school using the name. As with other Algonquin hard consonants, the real sound is 'Mass-a-peek' without the open vowels at the end, he added, explaining that it means place of great water. Cutchogue 6 While it's spoken today as 'cutch-hog,' Wallace said the real way is 'cutch-e-hoki,' spelled as 'kecheahki.' Alamy Stock Photo Unlike Patchogue, residents aren't remotely close to getting the pronunciation of the quiet North Fork escape spot on. While it's spoken today as 'cutch-hog,' Wallace said the real way is 'cutch-e-hoki,' spelled as 'kecheahki.' Advertisement In the same vein as Massapequa, it translates to mean great place. Setauket 6 Wallace says it as 'Se-tau-ah-ki' and added its definition is place of streams, something the north shore enclave by the Long Island Sound is known for. Alamy Stock Photo Similar to Cutchogue, Setauket, spoken like Secaucus in New Jersey, is a world apart from its perceived pronunciation. Wallace says it as 'Se-tau-ah-ki' and added its definition is place of streams, something the north shore enclave by the Long Island Sound is known for. Ronkonkoma Advertisement 6 Its prototypical 'Ron-cahnk-ama' pronunciation — which Neil Patrick Harris projected on the LIRR 2 a.m. drunk train in a sitcom — should be 'Ronkon-koman.' James Messerschmidt That's right, Long Island's showstopper that's been a punchline on 'How I Met Your Mother' and an Artie Lange monologue on an insufferable Yankees fan 'has been butchered,' Wallace said. Its prototypical 'Ron-cahnk-ama' pronunciation — which Neil Patrick Harris projected on the LIRR 2 a.m. drunk train in the sitcom — should be 'Ronkon-koman,' he explained. Advertisement The town name derives from its kettle lake, formed by the glacier that carved North America, which was sacred to its native population. One translation for Ronkonkoma is 'deep cavern place' in reference to the lake, which is tied to urban legends of hauntings and drownings attributed to a Native American-related curse — a story Wallace has explicitly called bunk on.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 7, 2025
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at June 7, 2025, results for each game: 31-36-43-48-62, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 2 Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here. Midday: 2-8-2 Evening: 8-7-2 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Midday: 4-1-7-8 Evening: 2-9-2-1 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Midday: 01-05-06-08-09-11-12-17-18-20-21 Evening: 02-03-04-06-08-11-12-13-16-20-22 Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here. 09-13-16-21-25 Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here. 07-23-29-33-35-37, Doubler: N Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here. 10-18-19-33-35-49 Check Megabucks payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer. Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774. Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916. No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state's open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner's consent. Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday. Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily. Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily. Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily. Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily. Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily. All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily. All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily. Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday. Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily. That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week's winning numbers. Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot ** WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 7, 2025
