The 2024 NSITEP graduating class ceremony occurred at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

milestone

NSITEP celebrates second cohort of graduates

May 27, 2024 | 2:09 PM

A new journey has begun for 16 graduates of the Northern Saskatchewan Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NSITEP).

A graduation ceremony was held May 24 to honour the new teachers, who come from a variety of communities throughout the North. This marks the second cohort of students who have graduated from the program, which began in 2019 in response to the closure of the Northern Teacher Education Program in 2017.

NSITEP was founded by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) and the Gabriel Dumont Institute, and there are currently more than 70 full-time teacher students in NSITEP.

“These two parties came together,” program head Dr. Morris Cook said to those in attendance at the ceremony.

“Gabriel Dumont and the LLRIB saw there is a need and we are seeing that still in our communities. There is such a need for teachers. We have a high turnover, but we also have many teachers who have been in our schools for many, many years that are retiring. We need to replace as we retire.”

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Cook also talked about the importance of education, explaining it represents values such as democracy, fairness, economic opportunities, a professional voice, as well as racial and social justice.

Approximately 150 people attended the graduation ceremony. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“This is a testament of that, and I think the hard work that’s been done by our forefathers both First Nations and Métis and their struggle for recognition on this land and now this is the fruition of that,” he noted.

“We are seeing an Indigenous renaissance. Renaissance in French means renewal, a new beginning. That’s what you are seeing here tonight.”

The 2024 graduating NSITEP class includes Erin Aubichon, Brittany Bird, Ada Bran Roque, Karrie-Lee Charles, Sandra Halkett, Janine Iron, Faith McCallum and Leah McCallum.

Malachi McKenzie, Kory Mirasty, Cherata Natomagan, Jane Roberts, Eva Ross, Melissa Ross, Tanya Ross and Georgette Sanderson.

Malachi McKenzie received the NSITEP Iskotēw Community Fires Award, while Eva Ross took home the award for Strength and Perseverance. The Community Fires Award recognizes exceptional graduating educators who embody the spirit of community-building through culturally responsive teaching practices.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com