Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 39 - No. 13 - June 28, 2012 haas^i>sa “Interesting News” Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Congratulations Grads By Debora Steel Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Port Alberni—The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council 2011/2012 Post Secondary and Grade 12 Graduation was held at the Alberni Athletic Hall on June 22. And the large space was teaming with proud graduates, their families and their supporters. School District 70 was well represented board chair Larry Ransom in attendance, as well as other school board members, and Superintendent Cam Pinkerton, who said the graduation was a milestone, but not the end of the road. He encouraged further effort around academics, and said he was looking forward to seeing the graduates successes in the future. Hupacasath Councillor Brenda Sayers
also encouraged the Grade 12 grads to continue their education and see some of the world. Then come back and help their people. “We need your great minds,” she said. Ken Watts, last year’s keynote speaker at this annual event, provided a welcome on behalf of the Tseshaht nation. He said it really made him feel good about the number of Nuu-chah-nulth grads this year. Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Cliff Atleo told the gathering that the graduates had opened the doors of opportunity with their academic achievement. “There is no end to your potential,” he said. He said he was proud to be standing with the graduates. “All the best in whatever you choose to pursue.” NTC Vice-President Priscilla SabbasWatts extended her congratulations to the
Inside this issue... Tlu-piich summer staff announced.............................Page 2 Summer Day Camp is available at PAFC..................Page 3 Seithcer’s T’cee?yas “The Proposal”...........................Page 5 NTC Grade 12 and Post-secondary graduation .......Page 8 Pacheedaht remembers...............................................Page 13
graduates, and said it was particularly good to see the post-secondary graduates and the Grade 12 graduates celebrate together. She said the post-secondary graduates provided excellent examples to the Grade 12 grads of what is possible. “I hold my hands up to both the students and their families.” School District 84 Superintendent Lawrence Tarasoff also mentioned the importance of family support in the achievement of the graduates. “Together this is what can be accomplished.” Caledonia Fred of the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation was this year’s keynote speaker. She talked about her difficulties in school, and the value of failure in a person’s life as key to learning. Starting with the tentative first steps of a baby learning to walk, she said as an example, failure is a part of the process of
learning most things. Fred said we have been conditioned to view failure as a setback, but it is a positive event that takes us one step closer to where we want to be. There will always be obstacles in life, she said. It’s how you deal with those obstacles that is important. “Take time to find out what you really want to do,” Fred advised. No life plan will turn out exactly as expected— “things change”—so the students should be prepared to adapt, because change is inevitable. She had the Grade 12 graduates stand and shout “I can do it.” Then she had them shout “We can do it” and the audience respond with “Yes, you can!” Valedictorian Olivia Shewish spoke to her class about the residential school experience. Continued on page 6.
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