Record number of graduates honoured at U of S powwow
- Andréa Ledding | May 31, 2016
A record number of graduates celebrated at the annual University of Saskatchewan Graduation Powwow.
The powwow was held at the University of Saskatchewan, with hundreds of high school graduates in the morning, and more than 400 university graduates celebrated in the afternoon.
“This is an almost 30-year tradition now, this powwow,” said Peter Stoicheff, President of the U of S. “I’d like to acknowledge in particular all you who are graduating today. You can tell of course from the acknowledgement of the crowd how important it is, how significant it is. Everyone knows how difficult it is to get a degree at a university...all the challenges you have had to overcome in order to be successful, and everybody is very proud of you.”
He also acknowledged the importance of the support of friends and families.
“It’s not only a wonderful thing that you have accomplished but it comes with a lot of responsibility,” noted Stoicheff, adding that it was a privilege to get a degree and be able to make a difference in the world, to make the country a better place. “And so I ask you to consider how you can use the influence that you have in order to accomplish that, in your own communities, in this province, and across this country, world-wide.”
Describing it as an opportunity made, he also thanked the Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty and staff lined up to congratulate and support the students at the powwow, adding that the U of S likes to consider itself a leader in the country in terms of Indigenous education.
Related:
- U of S celebrates historic opening of new student centre
- U of S Aboriginal Students' Centre helps newcomers adjust to campus life
- U of S powwow honours Aboriginal grads
- TRC releases final report in Ottawa
Graduate Dana Carriere addressed the students as well.
“We are not only here to celebrate our graduates and achievements...we are here to celebrate our familiyes, our mentors, our communities, and our culture. I can guarantee most of us didn’t get here on our own,” noted Carriere, adding that supporting one another was important. “Success is possible...we are unstoppable, we are strong.”
Eugene Arcand then spoke to the gathering, which was taking place in the large Physical Education gym due to inclement weather.
“I wore this hat that day in honour of those that maintained our language and our culture our ceremonies while we were away at the Residential Schools,” noted Arcand, taking the hat off his head. “I now wear this hat today to honour the graduates and high school graduates.”
He reminded the graduates that they would need to promote the TRC Calls to Action in their various paths and careers, as they used their education to better the world.
“I encourage you to take up the challenge of these Calls to Action,” said Arcand as he congratulated them and exhorted them to stay strong in their culture, language, and ceremony.