Cows and plows, other factors linked to record grad classes

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“We’re hoping to keep having a high number of people graduating. That’s one of our goals is to inspire and promote education because that’s a way of being able to get into the trades, university or technical school.” 

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Cows and plows, other factors linked to record grad classes

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One major factor Cook-Searson attributed to the high graduation rates is because of a stipulation to receive the Treaty 6 Agricultural Benefits Settlement (Cows and Plows). To qualify for the $35,000 payout, band members must either graduate from high school or wait until they are 21. 

In addition, Cook-Searson explained the First Nation has been focusing and promoting education as a priority. 

“One graduate was going to school in the city and came back to finish school,” Cook-Searson said. 

“He said there is so much support with the school on reserve and it is so personalized. He said he was able to get a lot more one-on-one time with teachers and then being able to do different things like going to the culture camp. Just having more individual support and having different opportunities as opposed to going to a high school where there are hundreds and hundreds of students…he felt like he was supported a lot more.” 

Cook-Searson noted there are also more members obtaining a post-secondary education than ever before, and they are receiving degrees in arts, sciences and the trades.  

While La Loche also had one of its largest graduating classes ever with 48 students, it is unclear if this trend is reflected in other communities in Northern Saskatchewan. larongeNOW reached out to Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) Director of Education Jason Young and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Peter Beatty, but requests for comment were not fulfilled by the time of publication.

Historically, the NLSD has struggled to increase its three-year graduating rate, which typically sits at around 30 per cent. That number hasn’t changed in the last decade.  

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com