CEDAR GRADUATION CAP CEREMONY JUNE 5, CEDAR HAT PAVILIONS – Six Swinomish high school graduates walked to the front of the amphitheater stage as six eagles circled high above and a song from the Swinomish Canoe Family filled the air. This gathering was organized for high school graduates as an honor to them from our community for their first of many ultimate life achievements – graduating from high school! In honor of their successes, the Cultural Events Department honored each student by gifting them a cedar graduation cap. Powerful words were spoken about what it means to wear traditional woven cedar, and teachings about how to care for the caps were shared. Each graduate’s efforts will never go unnoticed. Even though these students couldn’t experience a traditional graduation ceremony, our community organized a safe honoring event respecting social distancing for our graduates and their families. Our community’s prayer warriors, leadership, and members ensured the opportunity to give words of faith, encouragement, and motivation to each of the graduates and the whole community. Tribal Senator and faith leader at St. Paul’s Spiritual Center Barbara James, with assistance from Cultural Events Director Aurelia Bailey, blessed each student with cedar. As the students exited the stage to be with their families, the ceremony ended with another song from the Canoe Family.
Congratulations to the CLASS OF 2020!
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