Graduates far from home ‘grateful’ for honour at school powwow

After being displaced for more than two weeks, Jonah Wavey found some hope in a Winnipeg graduation ceremony — and he’s holding onto it until he can celebrate with his classmates back home.

The Grade 12 Tataskweyak Cree Nation student was among several wildfire evacuees honoured Monday during a special celebration of Indigenous graduates at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre.

The event, typically part of the Winnipeg School Division’s annual outdoor powwow that draws more than 10,000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, was postponed last week due to poor air quality from wildfires in northern Manitoba.

“I’m grateful that they are doing this for us,” Wavey said, adding that he hasn’t been in class since the wildfires around Tataskewyak forced 2,400 residents from their homes. “I’m glad that I am part of this.”

Wavey’s mother, Abbie Garson-Wavey, a band councillor in Tataskewyak, said she was thrilled to get the invite.

“I totally appreciated it,” she said. “We have (four) of our graduates (in Winnipeg), but unfortunately, a lot of them are separated because of the evacuation. “(My son) is so excited. We’re so proud of him and all of the work he’s done.”

Garson-Wavey said the evacuation has taken a toll on the entire community, especially youth.

“I know the displacement has caused us all to split up into different communities, different cities,” she said. “There’s been a lot of mental health issues because of the separation and the displacement. We’ve been just trying to remind them, to ground them, that we’re there for them and we support them.”

Monday’s smaller indoor event drew dozens of people and featured a grand entry, honour song, a prayer and teaching from divisional Kookum Marsha Missyabit, and a friendship dance that brought nearly everyone to the gymnasium floor, hand in hand and smiling.

WSD partnered with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to invite graduates affected by the wildfires.

“We express heartfelt gratitude to Winnipeg School Division for their generous and compassionate gesture in extending an invitation to Grade 12 graduates who have been evacuated from their home communities due to the wildfires,” said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Acting Grand Chief Gordon Bluesky in a release. “This meaningful act ensures that these students are recognized and celebrated for their achievements despite the challenges they have faced. It is a powerful example of community solidarity and support for First Nations youth during a time of uncertainty.”

Rob Riel, assistant superintendent of Indigenous education, said the division wanted to show they care during this difficult time.

“We’ve also opened the door for them, if they’re still in Winnipeg, to walk the stage at any of our graduations next week,” Riel said. “Every school said they would welcome it.

“It’s an important time that you have to acknowledge, so we just want to ensure they got that experience.”

For Keanu Kirkness, another Grade 12 student from Tataskweyak, the ceremony marked a special milestone.

“It’s a great achievement, a bookmark in my life, and getting to do it with the people with me here,” he said, alongside his parents and cousins. “It means a lot.”

Kirkness and his family have been staying with his aunt in Winnipeg since being evacuated.

“It’s been all right, having fun walking around (the city),” he said. “But I miss (home) and being in class, it’s my last year.”

He hopes the wildfires don’t take away the chance to celebrate graduation back home.

“The photos, the people you’re graduating with, you can always come back and look at them,” he said.

Matt Henderson, superintendent of schools and CEO of the Winnipeg School Division, said the ceremony was a small but meaningful gesture.

“This was a way to honour WSD grads, and at the same time, give students an opportunity that may not get to walk across their stage, and a show of solidarity,” Henderson said. “Kids are kids, and they want to be with each other, and that was the least we could do as a school division.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca