DFC celebrates 21 new graduates

While laptop computers and even a pickup truck were the big awards at the Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nations High School graduation, many graduates are still focused on their future education goals.
“I’m planning to take on Culinary (Management at Confederation College),” said Wapekeka’s John Anderson. “I heard there’s a lot of travelling with that and I want to go places.”
Anderson has already worked as a prep-cook at a Thunder Bay restaurant for eight months.
“I just like cooking,” Anderson said. “I’ve been cooking since as long as I can remember, since I was just a baby.”
Anderson and 20 other DFC graduates, including Wapekeka’s Shawn Anderson and Angeline Winter, Deer Lake’s Luke Aysanabee, Alicia Koostachin and Joycena Strang, Mishkeegogamang’s Davery Bottle, Slate Falls’ Julian Bunting, Sandy Lake’s Rashii Fiddler, Karianne Goodman, Gilmour Kakegamic, Corey Kakekapetum, Marsha Kennedy, Kansis Mandamin, Walter Monias and Forrest Sawanas, Keewaywin’s Jordan Kakegamic and Ashley McKay, Cat Lake’s Schyler Oombash and Chantal Wesley and Weagamow’s Nathaniel Quequish, were celebrated on May 15 during DFC’s A Walk To Remember graduation ceremony.
“I understand this is now 194 graduates since Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School was established here in Thunder Bay,” said Grand Chief Harvey Yesno. “I’m sure many of them have gone on to other things, married, raised a family, and we’ll probably hear stories about their successes.”
Yesno encouraged the graduates to fight for their families, communities and nations.
“We need you — don’t let this just be one rung in the ladder of success for you,” Yesno said. “Go to the best schools around the world to further your education and be what you want to be. Set your sights higher and may God bless you as you strive for that goal.”
Northern Nishnawbe Education Council executive director Norma Kejick noted the “huge” sacrifices made by DFC students to achieve their high school education.
“People don’t truly understand what our students go through when they have to leave home,” Kejick said. “They leave their families, their friends, their community. They are dealing with racism, but our staff tries to be their parents, their role models, their counsellors, their mentors, their friends. Without the staff supporting these students, many of them wouldn’t be sitting up here today, so I thank the staff for all they’ve done.”
Although Winter had a difficult route through high school, switching to numerous schools before graduating at DFC, she is now looking to follow a career path that also takes her around the world. Her first step on that path is to learn more about designing video games at Confederation College’s Multimedia Production program.
“I heard one report about that program that people get to travel around the world,” Winter said. “It’s multi — a bunch of things mashed into one.”
Winter’s favourite video game is Black Ops, but she wants to design a better game.
While Anderson and Winter are looking to travel around the world, other students are looking for careers that keep them in the area, including Sawanas, who plans to study Pre-Health Sciences at Confederation College but is also interested in being a teacher.
“I want to be a teacher because of the teachers here at DFC,” Sawanas said, noting that she felt accepted at DFC. “They make me want to come here and teach other students.”
Bottle, the father of a three-month-old baby, is looking to study Pre-Technology and Mining Techniques at Confederation College and work in the mining industry to support his family.
“I’m hoping to graduate from college and continue my education and get a good-paying job to support my family,” Bottle said.
Kennedy is looking for a career as an engineer, noting she plans to study Pre-Technology at Confederation College.
“I want to be an engineer and I want to learn how to fly a plane,” Kennedy said. “For all the high school students who haven’t graduated yet, keep working — it’s worth it in the end.”