Nine Portage College students received funding and recognition at the Métis Scholar Awards ceremony recently. The special ceremony took place at the College's Lac La Biche campus at the end of February. The Métis students were joined by family and friends, classmates, Portage College officials and members of the Métis community.
This year's recipients are students from communities across Western Canada enrolled in several full-time programs at Portage College campus locations in northeastern Alberta. Three of this year's scholarship recipients are in the Environmental Technologist Diploma Program, two are in Early Learning and Childcare, two more are in the Practical Nurse program, one is in the Computer Programing and Computer Technology Certificate program, and one is in the Professional Cooking Certificate Program. And all of them are shining examples of Métis spirt, says Métis knowledge-keeper Dan Cardinal.
"Education has always been a part of who we are as Métis people," said Cardinal, one of several guest speakers at the ceremony.
The former Métis Nation of Alberta vice president said students like the award-recipients help to highlight the past as they move into the future.
"Our ancestors carried knowledge through storytelling, land-based teaching, and lived experiences. Today we continue that tradition in new ways through institutes just like Portage College where young people grow with the knowledge rooted in their identity."
Métis Scholar Award recipient Shantae Bourassa receives a Métis sash from Dan Cardinal during the recent ceremony at Portage College.
Chantelle Sparklingeyes, representing District 19 - the Lac La Biche area - in the newly formed Otipemisiwak Métis Government, is a Portage College alumnus and a past Métis Scholar Award recipient. She told the recipients to be proud of their accomplishments and their heritage.
"Education has always been a cornerstone of Métis people. It has promoted us and given us platforms," she said, telling the recipients to focus on where they have come from and where they are going. "Your success is dedicated from your own personal work and achievements, but you are setting the standard for people who will come after you and the people before you."
Bernie Poitras, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government representative for District 12 - the Cold Lake and St. Paul area - said his daughter is a Portage College grad who "put her education to good use," and is now working in her chosen field. He told the recipients their education is a "big step" in their lives that not only connects them to jobs, but also to their roots.
Portage College's Vice President of People and Culture Carrie Froehler emphasized the many connections shared between the Métis community and Portage College.
"It's always a great day when we get to celebrate our students and get to celebrate partnerships," she told the people gathered in the college's wanîskah room - a specially designated area on campus that is available for Indigenous functions, smudging or quiet reflection. The room features a large tipi structure, Indigenous artwork and historic artifacts. A large black and white image on a feature wall of the room shows a group of largely Métis students and community members who were involved in a sit-in protest event in 1969. Their protest helped to keep the learning centre open, despite threats of funding cuts.
"Our college was saved by the Métis people," said Froehler, pointing to the people in the image of the sit-in. "Knowing that their work and their spirits are with us today is very nice."
The funding for the Métis Scholar Awards is made possible through the Métis Education Foundation, Alberta's Métis government, the Province of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund and participating post-secondary schools across the province. Since 2009, says Portage College's Vice President of Student and College Services Bev Moghrabi, the interest from the million-dollar endowment has provided $445,000 in funding to 212 Portage College students.
The Métis scholar awards are presented each year. Details about the recent addition of $75,000 into the fund from the Métis Education Foundation, and information about applying for the award, can be found here: Portage College students benefit from $75,000 contribution to endowment fund made by Métis Education Foundation
VIDEO: To watch highlights from the presentation, visit the Portage College YouTube channel or click on this direct link: https://youtu.be/oDB2wdIQCF0
GALLERY: To see additional images from the event, visit the image gallery at the Portage College facebook page.
