Indigenous students look toward future
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 18, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com For Shelley Kirkvold, Thursday’s Striving for Higher Learning gathering at Catholic Central High School will just be the first of more to come.The ‘Iisopok’ksikatkimayaa — Striving for Higher Knowledge’ event at CCHS was specifically for grade 11 and 12 First Nations, Metis and Inuit students in the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division to get support for their futures, whether that’s continuing on to post-secondary education studies, jobs or graduation.
The event featured traditional Indigenous games, recruitment presentations and a student panel.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen was among dignitaries speaking to students before the event.
Kirkvold, Holy Spirit’s co-ordinator for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education said during a break the gathering involved 56 students from CCHS and St. Michael’s High School in Pincher Creek who came into the city.
“We were thrilled to start the planning of what is called Striving for Higher Knowledge. This is an opportunity for us as the Holy Spirit division to celebrate the work of all of our students, Grades 11 and 12s in our division.”
The gathering was a chance to help Grade 11s transition into Grade 12 and more importantly for Grade 12s to transition into post-secondary education or employment, she said.
She said transition is daunting at any time of life so the more students have the better for them.
Holy Spirit holds itself accountable to giving students support but also a push, she said.
“We have a high high school completion rate and for us to be able to kind of see our post-secondary institutions back us as well as our employment centres backing us, it’s just one of those things where the call went out and everyone jumped in to make it happen.
“The big thing is that we are always about being student focused or student centred and that allows us to put on something special for them,” she added.
“We are so very grateful to have a team working behind us but the ones that we really need to give credit to are our Elders who are our knowledge keepers. They’re the ones who are really guiding our students – they see opportunities for them, they always want them to do their best,” Kirkvold said.
Kirkvold said Holy Spirit has a team providing opportunities for students to get dual credit, work experience and opportunity through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Kirkvold gave praise to the First Nations, Metis and Inuit support workers who are helping students.
“The students start to see them at a very, very young age and they work through overcoming challenges and celebrate their successes.
“This is kind of a mini reunion for all of us to celebrate this event with our students. And we want it to grow, we want it to become something not for this year but to actually grow,” said Kirkvold. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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