Indigenous graduates honoured with ceremonial items

Several postsecondary institutions incorporated new initiatives into their graduation ceremonies in order to honour their Indigenous graduates. McGill University celebrated its 110 Indigenous graduates with a scarf ceremony, in which each student received a ceremonial scarf created by Kahnawake-based designer Tammy Beauvais. Degree recipients received red scarves, while diploma and certificate recipients received white ones. The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue invited Indigenous graduates to personalize their graduation caps using traditional art techniques that express their identity. Humber College gifted Indigenous medallions made by Mikmaw artists Born in the North and lanyards made by Metis artist Beaded Bear to Indigenous students to wear during the convocation. Okanagan College recognized Indigenous graduates with a gift of a convocation stole embroidered with Syilx and Secwepemc pictographs. The pictographs include a canoe design symbolizing the Penticton, Kelowna, and Vernon campuses and their location on Syilx Okanagan territory and a Secwepemc design featuring three eagles to represent the Salmon Arm campus and its location on Secwepemc territory.