First Nations Voice

JULY 2015 • PAGE 3 T his month's First Nations Voice issue is dedicated to all the Aboriginal graduates out there and future graduates as well. I remember my first journalism instructor telling my college class that graduations are not news because most people graduate from something. I took that to heart and it even caused me to resign from one newspaper after a publisher forced me to cover a graduation. However, my thinking about graduations have changed. Last month, I gave my friend, Jennifer Courchene, a lift back home for a visit and it was most fortuitous that it happened to be the same day her daughter Jadeis was graduating from junior high school. Now, I am old enough to remember that in my day there was never any graduation ceremony for my class moving from junior high school to high school. Sagkeeng Junior High School principal Garry Swampy said, "It's important to recognize the achievements of these young people. There are all kinds of challenges in the future and any reason that can be given to help them succeed should be given." He welcomed me to join the community in honouring these young people at the Sagkeeng Arena. The young peoples' teachers had a good time handing out humorous individual awards that reflected personality traits of the teacher. Witness young Jadeis getting an award for "Being too Cute." I also attended the 26th University of Manitoba Graduation Pow Wow this year. And in this month's issue, I talked to a grad from the Urban Circle Training Center located on Selkirk Avenue. You just may be surprised at what's happening in Winnipeg's North End. If you have a graduation, just drop me a line and I'll see what I can do. Now here's some statistics to keep in mind: - Aboriginal young people make up the largest and fastest growing segment of the population. - Among First Nations people aged 20- 24 living on reserves, 58 per cent were high school dropouts in 2011, which was little changed from 2006 when the figure was 61 per cent. - For First Nations people living off reserves, 30 per cent were dropouts in 2011, a decline from 38 per cent in 2006. - Among Métis, 20 per cent were dropouts in 2011, a decline from 25 per cent in 2006. Among all Canadians of that age group, 10 per cent had not finished high school in 2011, down from 13 per cent in 2006. - Manitoba's future success hinges on increasing the participation rate of Aboriginal people into the economy. By Trevor Greyeyes GrAduAtions cAn be the story It's been a long and winding road for Crystal Seymore but the desire to do better for her family remains a driving force behind her recent graduation from Urban Circle's Health Care Aide/Health Unit Clerk Dual-Certificate Program. "Initially, I wanted to be a nurse and get into the health care field," said Seymore. "The main reason I dropped out (of a university nursing program) years ago was because I became pregnant," "However, I wanted to do better for my family. I want to be able to own a house that I can say is my own. I want to have a place where my kids can be able to come back to if they need help." She is the mother of four children and with most being a little older now Seymore found the time to look at completing her studies. "Both my parents have teaching degrees. They own their own home. They own their own vehicles," said Seymore. And that's something she wants to have her children see their mother do. She credits her parents with being real role models in her life. Fortunately, Urban Circle was able to provide her a path to education and, hopefully, full time employment. Urban Circle's goal is to provide culturally a p p r o p r i a t e education and training to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women and men in Winnipeg. Since 1991, Urban Circle has offered certified programming that connects to both our cultural teachings and labour-market demands. At the Centre, students are provided with a sense of belonging and community, and are committed to enriching the quality of their educational experience by providing opportunities for personal growth and success. Urban Circle has one of the highest success rates among adult learning and employment centres in Canada. With an average graduation rate of 88%, and employment rates of up to 92%, program graduates leave our Centre with the skills, abilities, and confidence to make positive change in the lives of their families and their communities. Urban Circle has been helping hundreds of Aboriginal people graduate from various programs over the years. That success has had a definite impact not on the lives of individual graduates but on the bottom line of Manitoba's economy. By Trevor Greyeyes fuLL circLe for urbAn circLe GrAd Jadeis Courchene, 13, is all smiles graduating from Sagkeeng Jr. High School.

• Cover