Seventeen student form the very first NSITEP graduating class. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

achievement

Indigenous education program celebrates first graduating class

Jun 1, 2023 | 3:28 PM

The inaugural graduation class of the Northern Saskatchewan Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NSITEP) will undoubtedly go on the make a huge impact in their home communities.

During a ceremony held Thursday at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre, 17 northerners were handed Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Regina. Three-quarters of the graduates have already signed contracts with some staying in La Ronge or heading the places like Hall Lake, Pinehouse Lake, Stanley Mission, Sturgeon Lake and Wollaston Lake in the fall.

“I was beyond words last night. We started our program back in 2019,” said program head Dr. Morris Cook.

“Shortly after the contract was signed, they ran an advertisement for a program head and faculty. I was lucky enough to be chosen to be the program head and April Chiefcalf was the faculty for the one year and, of course, we ran the program that first year along with many sessionals that came, not only from the community, but from out of town as well to offer that first educational offering to that first group that we saw yesterday graduate.”

The need for NSITEP came about following the closure Northern Teacher Education Program in La Ronge in May 2018. Cook explained once the provincial funding for that program was pulled, the surplus of teachers going into northern provincial and band schools was greatly diminished. Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band came together to create NSITEP.

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In the last four years, NSITEP has grown from 26 students during the first intake, to 60.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony Thursday at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“We ran a really robust campaign for fall intake, so we have a lot of students who are already being vetted right now through the U of R … so I’m expecting we will be busting by the seams by fall for Year 1,” Cook said.

The inaugural NSITEP graduating class include Becky Aubichon, Shalene Bird (distinction), Tracey Bouvier, Jolene Couillonneur (distinction), Carmen Fiddler, Glenda Lariviere, Leona Lariviere (distinction), Olivia MacDonald (distinction), Rita McKenzie, Ronnie McKenzie, Sandra McKenzie, Denise McLeod (great distinction), Jasmine Natomagan, Nikki Natomagan (distinction), Dolly Ratt (distinction), Megan Roberts (distinction), and Mary Venne.

In addition, Sandra McKenzie of Stanley Mission received the Strength and Perseverance Award, Ronnie McKenzie of Stanley Mission received the iskotēw Community Fires Award and Megan Roberts of Sucker River received the athwīpi Award.

“We had a lot of students graduate with distinction, one with great distinction. Distinction is anything between an 80 and 85 average and great distinction is over an 85 average,” Cook said.

“We have a very well-groomed group of students going out into the community, so I am really, really proud of them. All of them are very high achieving students without exception. We are recognized by the U of R as having a really high-quality educational offering. I’m really, really proud of that as well.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno