As institutions across Canada held graduation ceremonies, several marked special “firsts” with their convocations for Indigenous students and programs. Carleton University celebrated the inaugural cohort of its Certificate in Journalism in Indigenous Communities program with an Honouring Ceremony. The 17 graduates received paddles with the program logo on them and a copper cup to add to their bundles. The Pembina Hills School Division hosted its first ever recognition of Indigenous graduates with a special Indigenous graduation ceremony at Barrhead Elementary School. Each graduating student was presented with gifts, such as a sash for Metis students and lanyards for First Nations and Inuit students. Trent University and Yellowknives Dene First Nation celebrated the graduation of the first Northwest Territories cohort of the collaborative Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Diploma program. Several of the graduating students travelled 3,000 kilometers with their family, program coordinators, and First Nation leadership for Trent’s convocation ceremonies in June.
