Ahousaht post-secondary students and graduates arrived at Nanaimo’s Coast Bastion Inn on Sept. 15 to honor an invitation from the Ahousaht Education Authority (AEA), who wanted to acknowledge them for their educational accomplishments.
Ahousaht Post-Secondary Counsellor Vivien Louie said this is the fifth annual post-secondary grad celebration and back-to-school bash.
Ahousaht’s post-secondary students are attending colleges and universities all over Vancouver Island and the mainland. Campbell said members of the AEA had a celebration in Vancouver with five graduates on the mainland earlier this summer.
Along with post-secondary graduates, this year’s crop of Ahousaht graduates includes those that have successfully completed short-term courses.
Rod Atleo thanked everyone for coming to the dinner and welcomed the students who are just beginning their post-secondary journey.
Ahousaht Director of Education Rebecca Atleo said they were there to recognize all that completed their post-secondary programs and training in the trades.
“It’s good to get together, especially after Ahousaht has gone through some difficult times,” she said, alluding to the losses of loved ones over the past few months. “I feel blessed that we can get together, laugh and enjoy each other’s company,” she continued.
To those starting up or continuing your studies, I encourage you to work hard and strive for the highest; don’t just settle for getting by, she said.
And just for your information, Cermaq is going to be offering a scholarship again, this year, so I encourage you apply everywhere for scholarships, because every little bit helps. We want you to succeed and to achieve the highest because we know you have it in you, she told them.
Ahousaht Education Authority Chairperson Anne Atleo said it was good to see their faces because ‘where we sit as board members, we see your names on the applications but not your faces, so it is so nice to see you.
She went on to talk about the importance of having educated people working together for Ahousaht.
“I recall a time when there was a 60 per cent discrepancy between what the Indian Affairs paid public schools and our schools for each student,” said Atleo, adding that people are working hard to secure fair funding for their education.
She noted that there has been success. In 2016 Ahousaht, with a membership count of more than 2,000 people, has 52 post-secondary students.
Anne talked about the endangered Ahousaht language and asked everyone to work toward saving it. “I plead with you to do what you can to keep it alive in your family,” she said.
Ahousaht acknowledged the following 2016 Post-secondary graduates:
· Keenan Andrew, Family and Child Studies Diploma, Camosun College. He will continue his studies in Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at UVic.
· Crystal Campbell, Bachelor of Arts, VIU
· Lila Charleson, Child and Youth Care Diploma, VIU
· Lisa Charleson, Bachelor of Arts, VIU. She will continue her studies in Master of Social Work degree at the University of Toronto
· Cynthia Dennis, Child and Youth Care Diploma, VIU. She will continue her studies onto Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at VIU.
· Marcena Louie, Master’s Degree in Indigenous Community Counseling, UVic
· Raylene McCreath, Bachelor of Education, VIU
· Alice Sam, Human Service Diploma, NIC
· Shezell-Rae Sam, Indigenous Family Studies Support Diploma, Camosun College. She will continue studies in Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at UVic.
· Wilfred Atleo, Heavy Equipment Training Course
· Jeannine Adams, Aboriginal Ecotourism Training Program
· Edgar Carlson, Welding Program
· Cameron McCreath, Electrician
· Tana Thomas, Aboriginal Ecotourism Training
· Ramona Mark, Leadership Vancouver Island West Coast Program
· Patricia Campbell, Leadership Vancouver Island West Coast Program
