SADDLE LAKE - The community of Saddle Lake celebrated the educational achievements of the past two years with the 20th Biennial Round Dance at the Ayiwakes Hall on Feb. 14.
The celebration was for everyone who graduated high school, finished their undergraduate or graduate university degrees, college programs, or trade certificates.
“They get honoured when they graduate from their institute when they actually go through their graduation celebrations or convocations, but this is a little bit more special, I think, because it's our nation who is making that declaration that we're proud of you,” said Bernadine Houle-Steinhauer, the director of Saddle Lake Post Secondary.
Saddle Lake Post Secondary provides personal supports and financial assistance for students from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. For local students, that support includes a shuttle bus from Saddle Lake to University nuhelot’ine thaiyots’I nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills and to Portage College in St. Paul.
“Be it just a phone call, be it going to visit them at their institutes, we do lots of support services for our students, and the stories that they could tell, it's unbelievable almost. But like I said, they're resilient people,” said Houle-Steinhauer.
She said one of things they will be doing during Reading Week are retreats in St. Paul and Edmonton to help students “blow off a bit of steam and reconnect, refocus again.”
“We’ll do things like traditional cultural activities like tan drum making, beading, they're able to get spoiled with a little bit of services, like getting their nails done or getting haircuts,” said Houle-Steinhauer.
Becky Cardinal-Rattlesnake, 43, was one of the graduates being honoured. She completed her Masters of Education with a specialization in Policy Studies for Indigenous Peoples’ Education through the University of Alberta and UnBQ and now teaches at Onchimnahos School.
“It’s the school that I attended when I was a child, so it’s come full circle. I also taught at the high school that I attended as well,” said Cardinal-Rattlesnake.
She said seeing Indigenous people receive educational credentials is an important stepping stone.
“When I graduated, there were three graduates. And when I was a teacher at the high school there were 19 graduates. And so today, we’re celebrating over 300 graduates from all types, not only high school but everything else,” said Cardinal-Rattlesnake.
“In my mom’s lifetime, high school was only an option if you gave up your treaty rights, so in our reality now, it’s very different. These possibilities are happening because of greatness like this, because of our people who believe in us and support us and sponsor us through this,” she said.
Also, among those honoured at the ceremony were mother and daughter Karen and Chelsey Steinhauer, who both completed bachelor's degrees in 2023 and 2024.
In total there were credentials honoured for nine post-graduate degree programs, 25 undergraduate degrees, 29 college/university diploma programs, 12 college certificate programs, five university and college preparation programs, 108 high school graduates, 106 employment and training graduates, 31 academic upgrading graduates, and 25 pathways to employment graduates.
Some people received more than one credential in 2023/24.
