Onto the next chapter: Sakewew High School celebrates graduation

“I didn’t expect that. I can’t believe I have this opportunity. It took a bit for me to write my speech as well because I had a lot of words to say. I decided to make it short because I wanted to say what was most important to me.”

Redsky Wuttunee (left) and Ciera Pritchard (right) after the Sakewew High School graduation ceremony. (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW Staff)

For Wuttunee, it is important to have graduated from an Indigenous school where everyone shares the same beliefs and grew together through the years.

“I’m really grateful to especially be graduating from Sakewew as it’s a Native school. Everyone there, I see them as my kokum’s, my mushum’s, my elders, aunties, uncles. That’s why I see them as. They’re family to me,” she said.

“Over the years, you just get to know everyone. I know everyone in that class. Obviously not as close with some of them, but of course you know them and it’s a nice community, especially as we’re all native and they all share the same beliefs.”

Principal Shauna Bugler also spoke about the graduating class being a tight-knit, smaller-than-usual group.

“I think the kids have always remained close together. Going through the same struggles, the same successes and just being able to connect culturally also in the building that we have. Building those relationships with all the staff, it’s super important in the success of our students.”

The graduating class had some family interconnectedness, so Bugler said she found the ceremony had a true family feel to it as well.

(Image Credit: Submitted)

Multiple awards and scholarships were handed out at the ceremony, many of which went to Pritchard, who received roughly $7,000 in scholarship funding.

After the ceremony, graduates went outside to the teepee outside the Don Ross Centre to throw their caps in the air and cap off their high school careers.

Graduates toss their caps in the air to celebrate their graduation. (Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)

—

Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

Onto the next chapter: Sakewew High School celebrates graduation

What's Trending