Special Ceremony Recognizes Indigenous Graduates and Award-Winners
Students honoured for their achievements at Trent University
"Exceptional, fulfilling, inspiring." This is how Trent University student Stephanie Thompson described a special ceremony, held at Gzowski College on June 7, 2016, that honoured Indigenous graduates and students taking Indigenous Studies courses and programs at Trent.
Ms. Thompson, who graduated with an Honours B.A. in Indigenous Studies, was one of more than 60 students recognized for their achievements at the special event. Her sister, Nicole Marrero, a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate, was also an honouree. Both hail from Kingsclear First Nation in New Brunswick.
The event, which took place in Nozhem: The First Peoples Performance Space, was organized by the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) and the department of Indigenous Studies. It was attended by family members, friends, supporters, staff and faculty.
"Many of our students come from very remote fly-in communities, go to high schools that do not offer academic credits, go to Indigenous immersion schools, bring their whole families here, or face extraordinary hardships in getting here," said Adam Hopkins, director of FPHL, who emceed the ceremony. "This is a small way to honour their sacrifices."
The ceremony commenced with a prayer, spoken in Anishnaabemowin, by Professor Shirley Williams of Trent's Indigenous Studies department, and featured traditional songs by the Unity Singers, as well as short videos produced by student winners of a digital story competition.
Each student being honoured was presented with a graduation gift bag that included a smudge kit and four traditional medicines – tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweet grass.
In recognizing the sacrifices that students have made, Mr. Hopkins said "It shows to all of us that you've had to work twice as hard as some of your classmates and you've decided to examine the world through multiple lenses and multiple experiences, like few places can offer."
"This ceremony means a lot to students and their families. It brings everyone together," said Ms. Thompson, who plans to take a year off before enrolling in a Masters program. She noted that her parents, partner, children, and friends attended the event to show their support.