Oshki graduates 56; highest to date

Priscilla and Chris King are not only Native Early Childhood Education graduates — they are also parents of two children and co-workers back in Kingfisher Lake.
“I’m really proud of myself,” Priscilla said during the June 15 Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute graduation ceremony at the Da Vinci Centre in Thunder Bay. “It was tough. We have a 12-year old and an eight-year old, we work full time and we had schoolwork in the evenings. It was tough, but it’s all worth it now.”
In addition to completing assignments and attending teleconferences and videoconferences in the evenings, the Kings also had to travel to Oshki’s campus in Thunder Bay for two-week sessions twice per semester over the five-semester program.
“My parents looked after our kids,” Priscilla said. “All the way.”
After completing the Native Early Childhood Education program, the Kings are planning to attend Lakehead University’s Native Language Instructors Program.
“Our goal is to try to bring back our language,” Priscilla said. “There are a lot of children back home who do not speak the language and we are trying to bring that back.”
Nine other students graduated from Native Early Childhood Education, including Lindsay King, Sylvia Shapwaykeesic, Lily Chouinard, Jean Elias, Daisy Tait, Annie Kakepetum, Maria Mekanak, Yvette Joseph and Eleanor Mamakwa.
Elias was presented with Oshki’s Governing Council Award of Excellence for her 4.0 GPA.
“This year at Oshki, we have achieved our highest graduation rate — 56 (graduates),” said Rosie Mosquito, executive director at Oshki. “Two years ago it was 43. It keeps growing every year and it’s showing that we are providing an integral service for our people.”
Moquito said the growth in graduates from Aboriginal education institutes indicate they are succeeding and are a necessary part of the postsecondary education landscape.
“Given our success and growth in statistics, the provincial and federal governments need to provide more investments to enable us to close that gap, create the labour force and create the capacity that is needed within the communities and in other parts of Canada,” Mosquito said. “Many of our graduates attribute their success at Oshki to the cultural appropriateness.”
Mosquito said Oshki is an Aboriginal friendly and Aboriginal controlled learning environment that is supportive to students.
“For some of the valedictorians, their instructors encouraged them and wouldn’t allow them to drop out,” Mosquito said. “So they were able to succeed because they got more supports from our faculty and program coordinators. We give them extra support that is not provided in colleges and universities.”
Long Lake #58’s Noreen Agnew said it is important to focus on the journey, not the destination during her valedictorian address for the Social Services Worker – Native Specialization program.
“The joy is not in finishing an activity, but in doing it,” said the mother of three children, including a seven-month old, who also works fulltime in her community. “The true growth for us (students) began on the path as we learned from each other. Our passion to better our people and our communities was the driving force behind our determination to finish and successfully complete our program.”
Anne Marie Bouchard, Donna Jacob, Charlene McParland, Deanna Mitchell, Eleanor Redbreast, Jason Willms and Sarah Winter also graduated from the Social Services Worker – Native Specialization program.
Eabametoong’s Ardelle Sagutcheway described the growth students achieved while studying at Oshki during her valedictorian address for the Pre-Health Sciences program.
“We have shared laughs, tears and many, many hugs in our lives,” Sagutcheway said. “I am the youngest in our group and I think of my fellow classmates as role models, women who inspired me to be a better me. They have shown me strength, humility and courage; they have also taught me the importance of friendship and laughter.”
Rosanne Ojeebah, Janet Cromarty, Miriam Cook and Lorianne Sinoway also graduated from Pre-Health Sciences.
The Personal Support Worker program had five graduates: Anna Grizans, Donna Barkman, Leslie Ferris, Maria Meekis-Harper and Sharon Meekis.
The Basic Radiological Technician program had seven graduates: Matthew Ashpanaquestcum, Allison Wanakamik, Kathie I. Morris, Sandra J. Barkman, Colleen Meekis, Corrine Rose Jeremiah and Elsie M. Anderson.
The Chemical Addictions Worker program had 11 graduates: Verna Aganash, Cyril Beardy, Joni Beardy, Joyce Boyce, Roseanne Cutfeet, Jeannie Duncan, Edith Fiddler, Shirley Fiddler, Paul Johnup, Howard Kakegamic and Brian Linklater.
Kyle Atatise-Kakegamic, Phalen Iserhoff, Pearl Peters, Edward Desmoulin, Tasheena Francis, Marsha-Lynn Ledger, Andrew Machandagoos and Nickolas Paszkowski graduated from General Education Development.