By Bryan Eneas

Sask. Polytechnic set to honour Indigenous students

Mar 8, 2018 | 4:00 PM

A Saskatchewan educational institution has annually honoured Indigenous students for the past quarter century, and the tradition will continue this year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is celebrating their Indigenous students with an honour ceremony March 8 between 5 and 8 p.m. in the Prince Albert campus’ cafeteria. Students will celebrate with a shared dinner, hear success stories from current Indigenous students and listen to an honour song.

According to Jason Seright, director of Indigenous strategy for Sask. Polytechnic, Indigenous students have responded positively to the honour ceremony in previous years. The gathering also acts as a mental boost, he said, for students who may be worn down from the school year.

“Sometimes with those last exams, it’s kind of like running a race,” Seright said. “When you get to the end, you get a little bit tired.”

He said the ceremony provides an opportunity for students to celebrate their educational successes with family, friends and peers.

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After Sask Polytechnic incorporated, Seright said each of the four campuses across Saskatchewan began hosting their own honour ceremonies. Celebrations will take place all through March. The Prince Albert campus kicks things off, and the Regina campus honour ceremony takes place March 21. The campus in Moose Jaw will honour Indigenous students March 22, and the Saskatoon campus will celebrate March 28.

Seright said the gatherings are part of the Indigenous Student Success Strategy to aid in student retention as well. According to the institution, “the Indigenous Student Success strategy helps remove barriers to success for Indigenous students and enhance their experience by incorporating Indigenous ways of thinking and learning into the everyday culture of Sask. Polytech.”

Indigenous students make up 19 percent of Sask. Polytechnic’s population of 28,000.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas