Valedictorian found culture, calling at FNUniv
- EFN Staff | November 19, 2016
The fall convocation for the First Nations University of Canada was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on October 23, 2016. With a total of 37 convocates, Kristen Auger was the Valedictorian.
SASKATOON CAMPUS
Amber-Leigh Fox, from Onion Lake First Nation convocated from the First Nations University, and received her Bachelors of Indigenous Social Work.
Fox entered her academic journey with fear, but left with pride, she says, “There were both good and bad days but the good days definitely outweigh the bad. I am not who I am if I hadn’t gone to FNUniv.”
Being a mother of two and one on the way, Fox struggled financially with the rare days of wanting to move back to her reserve.
Time management would get the best of her but that was when she would find a friend, elder or a professor to let those emotions out and continue her journey. She would get that motivational push to get her work done.
Fox attended a culture camp one year with her eldest daughter, she became close with ‘Kokum Mary-Lee and Mosum Danny’. The teachings they brought to the culture camp stuck with Fox that she teaches her daughters and practises.
Fox laughs as she remembers Mosum Danny sneaking cheezies that she had at the camp, so whenever she visits him she has those chips. She remembers Kokum Mary-Lee sending her back to her tent for wearing a skirt and tank top at culture camp, so when she visits her today she makes sure she’s wearing baggy clothes.
Once Fox convocated, she put her degree to use and began her full-time job at Saskatoon Tribal Council as a Child & Family Mentor Aid. Working as a casual with their homes and doing shift work, Fox is ready to work and is not scared of mistakes or pressure.
“What I have been taught at FNUC that is where you learn your weaknesses and strengths. I am not scared to make a mistake it will only make me challenge myself that much harder.”
REGINA CAMPUS
Kristen Auger made the big move four years ago from British Columbia to pursue a degree at the First Nations University of Canada, where she learned her passion for traditional art and got her bachelor’s degree in Indian Art.
Growing up in Fort St. John, BC, Auger didn’t get the chance to learn about her Cree heritage. She came to FNUniv for the Indian Communication Arts (INCA) program, but when she took a traditional arts class and found her calling.
“I chose the First Nations University because I wanted to learn, FNUniv had a lot of Cree language classes, a lot of Indigenous Studies classes, and things that are interesting there that I couldn’t find at other universities,” says Auger.
She spent hundreds of hours creating beadwork, pottery, painting, etc. as her love for creating art grew through the institute.
“It’s been really great, the classes at FNUniv. I couldn’t find classes like that at other places,” Auger says.
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She was given the help and guidance from Judy Anderson, Shannon Avison and other faculty members. After four years of learning and creating art, Auger made a beaded hood and won the BMO 1st Art Competition Regional for Saskatchewan.
Auger is close to her family, so the long distance was hard on her for the first while as moving to Regina on her own was a huge step. Although it had made her grow and pushed her through her studies to become Valedictorian.
“It was a pretty awesome feeling when they asked me to be Valedictorian, I’m happy about that,” says Auger.
With a little 4 month old baby boy, Auger plans to take care of him and plan her next art piece to work on. Thanks to attending First Nations University of Canada, she is on her way to becoming a professional artist.