The University of Manitoba honoured aboriginal graduates with a day of celebration Saturday at the school’s 25th Annual Graduation Powwow.
Graduates were led into the auditorium by a chorus of drums and traditional dancers.
“It feels good to be done, especially in this setting,” said human nutritional sciences graduate Kayla Farquhar. “I feel very proud to be First Nations and to have it celebrated in this way.”
According to data from the 2011 National Household Survey, just 9.9 per cent of aboriginal respondents had a university degree, compared with 26.5 per cent of non-aboriginal respondents.
All the more reason to embark on a university education, said Social Work graduate Travis Bighetty.
“It’s very difficult,” he said. “But at the same time it’s very necessary if you want to have your voice heard.”
More than 230 aboriginal students are expected to graduate from the U of M this spring and many of them are already role models in their communities.
The goal now, said Farquhar, is to use those degrees to enact positive change.
She said some chronic illnesses in First Nations communities can be linked to poor diet and she hopes her nutritional sciences degree will have an impact in that area.
“I plan to work on reserves,” she said. “At least for the first few years. And hopefully then be set up in Winnipeg, but I’d like to do fly-in communities in the beginning.”
Mom Hilda Bighetty beamed as she spoke about the pride she has in son Travis and how she looks forward to seeing the influence he will have as he embarks on his social work career.
“I feel good about it because there will be other young men that will be following him,” she said. “He’s going to be one of the leaders for younger kids in the community.”
The University of Manitoba Graduation Pow Wow provided an opportunity to celebrate recent accomplishments but graduates already have an eye toward the journey that lies ahead.
