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'A big accomplishment' for Grade 12 students honoured at Winnipeg ceremony for Indigenous, evacuated grads
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On Monday, Grade 12 students from evacuated northern Manitoba communities were invited to join a Winnipeg School Division ceremony honouring this year's Indigenous graduates at the University of Winnipeg's Duckworth Centre.
Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous education with the school division, said extending invitations to evacuees was about being "good neighbours" to youth who would otherwise miss out on an important milestone.
"They'd be missing out just on the camaraderie and the celebration of working so hard … You don't want to miss out on that," Riel told CBC's Marcy Markusa on Information Radio Monday morning before the ceremony.
"We're just trying to make it as meaningful and celebratory as possible," he said.
All evacuated grads from northern Manitoba, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, were welcome to attend, Riel said.
The ceremony included a grand entry for graduating students, prayers, opening remarks, an honour song and some dancing. Riel said all participants would be invited to take part in a round dance to heal, honour and celebrate life.
Before the ceremony, Deshaun Keeper said he was happy to graduate Monday, but it was a bittersweet moment as many of his family and friends had planned to attend his graduation back home in Tataskweyak Cree Nation.
He said many of his loved ones were evacuated to Niagara Falls, Ont.
"I'm celebrating today but I wish some family members were here," Keeper said, adding his mother was going to be in the audience.
"Some are here, so I'm happy," he said.
Trenton Bourassa, a Grade 12 graduate from Tec Voc high school who also achieved a welding diploma, said he was proud to be celebrating with other Indigenous students from across the school division.
"I'm sure everybody's happy to be graduating this year and it's a big accomplishment for everyone," he said.
Bourassa said he's proud of himself for achieving his goals and reaching this milestone, and he's excited to get there alongside evacuated graduates.
"I'm proud of all those students. Up north with all those wildfires, that's a serious situation. I couldn't imagine just being up there and having to graduate … and miss this kind of stuff," Bourassa said.
Keeper said he hopes Tataskweyak grads will be able to celebrate together at a later ceremony when evacuees are allowed to return home.
"Just a handshake and I'll be happy to go home and enjoy life," Keeper said.
The First Nation, also known as Split Lake, declared a state of emergency on May 29 after the community lost power due to a wildfire burning just a kilometre away. An evacuation order was issued the next day.
