Sixteen First Nations and Metis students from the Primary Care Paramedic training program graduated Monday afternoon.
For, Layne Berens, graduating meant over coming challenges.
"I do have a speech impediment so growing up sometimes could be tough. I did get bullied sometimes,” said Berens.
He grew up and went to school in the West End of Winnipeg. A place he said taught to help others in crisis.
"I've always wanted to be there for people who needed someone the most, and I feel paramedics do that as first responders," Beren’s added.
Now he, along with his 15 fellow graduates of the first of its kind program, will get the chance to help many more people in need.
The new crop brings the number of paramedics of First Nations, Metis or Inuit decent to 32 working in Manitoba.
The Program Coordinator of the training program, Jason Little, said there is a need for more aboriginal first responders.
And with these new graduates, Little said the city will be well served.
"They've definitely met every aspect of the program and everything that we've asked of them and I know that they're going to be very successful out there," Little said.
Out there, Layne Berens hopes to learn as much as he can about the medical field, hoping to one day go back to school and perhaps become a doctor.
For now, his family along with those of the other graduates celebrate the success of completing the eight month program.
"I'm extremely proud, it brought tears to my eyes," said his mother Janice Berens.
More from the native community are enquiring about the program, but official haven't decided if this program will continue.
The primary care paramedic training program is the first of its kind of Manitoba and the grade point average for all 16 students is 89 percent.
- with files from Sheila North Wilson
