A special ceremony was held at the Portage College Lac La Biche campus recently, recognizing seven students receiving Métis scholarship awards.
Three of the students – Mylo Benton from the Environmental Technologist Diploma program, Adrienne Lynis from Community Social Work Diploma, and Keesha White in University Transfer – were able to attend the event in person, bringing family and friends for support. Four other students, Makayla Bazuta, from Early Learning and Child Care Certificate, Mackenzie Evans in the Practical Nurse Diploma program, Jayelynn Michaud in Culinary Arts Diploma, and Lexis Ouelette a Practical Nurse Diploma student, were unable to attend.
The scholarships are provided by the Métis Education Foundation Endowment Fund in partnership with Portage College, the Rupertsland Institute, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, and the Province of Alberta’s Access to Future fund.
The ceremony was held in the Portage College wanîskah cultural space, and area that recognizes the significance of Indigenous history in the region and in the college, including a large black-and-white image depicting Indigenous community members involved in a sit-in protest in 1970 that forced the federal government to keep the college open.
Portage College Vice President of People and Culture Carrie Froehler acknowledged the significance of the sit-in and its parallel to the day’s event.
Powerful history
“It is a powerful piece of our college’s history,” Froehler told the small crowd attending the ceremony. “The people in that photo – 56 years ago – stood up and fought for something that was deeply important … education for their people. Today we are here celebrating exactly what they fought for. We are honouring the students who are achieving their goals, building their futures and continuing that legacy. That is something truly meaningful.”
Quoting Peter Erasmus, a community Elder from the time of the sit-in, Portage College’s Cultural and Community Facilitator Robert Rayko told the scholarship recipients: “The key to our future is education.”
Skyler Wong, the manager of the Metis Endowment Fund, congratulated the recipients on not only their own accomplishments, but for continuing to help build pathways for future learners.
“Your academic journeys not only represent personal achievements, but also build strength within your community,” he said.
A District Captain in the Lac La Biche area with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, Chantal Sparklingeyes applauded the students as role models.
“I believe that when we take the opportunities to educate ourselves in a way that maybe people before us didn’t have, we unapologetically take up the space that we have every right to be in,” she said.
Since the scholarships were first handed out in 2008, approximately $440,000 has been awarded to 210 Portage College students.
Criteria for the scholarships and entry deadlines can be found on the Portage College website.